Submitted by: Michael Colon Community Relations Officer, San Diego County Credit Union

Each year, SDCCU is proud to partner with the San Diego County Library to bring financial literacy to the San Diego community through our Financial Wellness Wednesdays program. In 2023, we identified an opportunity to expand our partnership while also helping to increase access to reading and literacy in our community through our inaugural Lift Up Literacy book drive. Throughout the month of October 2023, SDCCU’s Lift Up Literacy campaign collected and donated 11,058 books to help support the efforts of the San Diego County Library to promote literacy throughout San Diego County.

San Diego County Library encourages a love of reading in every way across its 33 branches, five kiosks and Free Little Libraries, an honor-based book exchange program with welcoming mailbox-like structures that are placed in areas dealing with literacy challenges which include transportation, financial or technical barriers.

The San Diego County Library shared that the donation of over 11,000 books made a tremendous impact on their Free Little Libraries program. The donated books allowed them to replenish all Free Little Libraries throughout the county and redirect the funds that would have been used to purchase books elsewhere to support literacy and financial literacy within our community.

The Free Little Libraries provide access to books across San Diego and particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, reducing the gap for students that lack access to transportation to visit a physical library building or with connectivity challenges at home.

The Lift Up Literacy book drive was an expansion of the existing partnership we have with San Diego County Library with our Financial Wellness Wednesdays program. Each year from January through March, SDCCU hosts complimentary financial wellness webinars aimed at improving the financial health of those in our community. Through the Financial Wellness Wednesdays program, SDCCU offers nearly two dozen different topics that include something for every stage of life. The webinar format removes access barriers to financial education, ensuring it is inclusive and accessible to all.

Visit SDCCU’s Financial Knowledge Blog to learn more tips on setting up a solid financial future or join us for Financial Wellness Wednesdays.