News Photo by Darby Hinkley Local credit unions teamed up with Alpena Senior Citizens Center in April for an Easter egg fundraiser for the Meals on Wheels program, raising over $2,000. Pictured, from left, are Loren Jackson, marketing director for Wolverine State Credit Union, Ellie Hoes, V.P. of marketing for HPC Credit Union, Jordan Esch, Alpena Community Credit Union chief financial officer, and Alpena Senior Citizens Center Director Annie Hepburn hold meals from the Meals on Wheels program on Tuesday at the center.

ALPENA — Local credit unions teamed up with Alpena Senior Citizens Center in April for the second annual Easter egg fundraiser for the Meals on Wheels program.

With the help of many generous community members, and of course, the Easter Bunny (Matt Haske alternating with Jessica O’Neil), over $2,000 was raised for the program.

“The Meals on Wheels program is very important to our community,” Jackson said. “It’s great that the credit unions can come together to support the program and individuals receiving the meals.”

Hepburn said the community provided valuable support in this fundraising effort for seniors.

“Any collaboration in our community is great,” Hepburn added. “The funds benefit our Alpena County seniors. The meal is a suggested donation of $4.50, but if they can’t afford that, then the fundraising offsets some of those costs. And with food prices going up, any support helps us. Every dollar matters.”

Hoes added that some individuals made much larger donations than the suggested $5 per Easter egg, which contained a prize or candy.

“We received a lot of great donations from people,” Hoes said. “Someone came in and gave us $150, just because, and they didn’t even take an egg. There are a lot of generous people that come out and support. It’s just nice to see people coming together.”