Sandia Area Federal Credit Union’s Post

While many children throughout the country welcome to start of summer, for millions of families, summer can mean additional hardship. 14 million U.S. children -- one in five -- live in households that struggle against hunger, and we know that child hunger soars during the summer when traditional school meals are unavailable. As our Countdown to Summer giving campaign comes to an end, will you help Hunger Free America connect families in need with food? https://lnkd.in/e929GSXK

Our House of Hope Director, Pastor Moses, answers some of your questions about child rescues at House of Hope. What does a rescue look like? How are children chosen to be rescued? What happens to their families/guardians? Watch this informative video to learn more. To learn more how you can sponsor one of our ten newly rescued children at House of Hope, please visit servone.org/shelter.

November is here which means it's almost Thanksgiving! Here are some ways we can bring Joy to others during this Holiday Season. With Family, Friends and Neighbors: • Surprise a friend or family member with a small treat. • Call your local school district and offer to pay a child’s school lunch debt. • Write a letter of encouragement to someone having a difficult time. • Donate flowers after an event or to a nursing home. • When visiting new parents, bring their favorite meal and offer to take care of the baby while they relax and eat. • Help others out after a storm with snow removal and yard cleanup. When Out and About: • Leave a really big tip for a server in a restaurant, especially if you can see they are having a bad day. • Pick up and throw away trash you see left on a counter, table or floor. • Offer grace, kindness and patience to retail workers, and let them know when they are doing a great job. • Offer to let someone cut in front of you in line at the store.

Yesterday I read something that put some perspective on how massive the fires in LA are. There is approximately 29,000 acres of damage (and counting.) That is double the size of Manhattan...just gone. The individual loss is unfathomable. For most people in LA it's everything they own, and it's not only their home that is gone, their place of employment might be as well. But I also cannot help but remember what it felt like in NYC on 9/11 and the months after, seeing a city you love - your city - in ruins. A city with what feels like the impossible job before you. A city in grief. If you are looking for ways to help here's three organizations I picked to donate to, based on other people sharing information they've vetted. Help if you can. World Central Kitchen founded by Chef José Andrés does amazing work all over the world, and is on the ground providing meals to people who are displaced: https://lnkd.in/gq4q2ZEV... AirBnB.org (their non-profit arm) is funding housing for first responders and people who have had to evacuate: https://lnkd.in/gRsu-SH3 So many pets are being found and need immediate care. Pasadena Humane Society is on the frontlines and coordinating foster homes: https://lnkd.in/gYy6a2ah And if you know someone in LA, whether they are directly impacted or not, please reach out and ask "how is your heart?" Even people who are physically ok are not ok right now.

Do you work from home? Do you like dogs? Would you LIKE a dog? Would you like a dog that could one day change a person's life? Would you like to take a dog into work with you to make those in-office days bearable? Then guide dog puppy raising is for you. Learn more here https://lnkd.in/edGGPaMx

GCH empowers families to achieve self-sustainability by teaching them how to fish instead of just giving them fish. Through financial literacy, parenting, and nutrition education, GCH helps build lasting positive habits. Support this incredible non-profit and make a difference! #CommunitySupport #FinancialLiteracy #NonProfit #SelfSustainability #PositiveChange

It's Giving Tuesday! 💝 The perfect day to make a difference and give back to your community. While spreading kindness, don't forget to prioritize your safety. 🚨 Check out these tips to stay safe while giving back! 🙌

🔔 ICYMI: 🧡 “September marks Hunger Action Month, and today, we also pay tribute to the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. 🇺🇸 Hunger is a year-round challenge, but this month and this day serve as a reminder to come together and make a difference. Millions of people across the country, including families and children, face food insecurity every day. After the September 11th attacks, David Paine and Jay Winuk—who lost his brother Glenn, a volunteer firefighter—sought to redefine this day by making it one of service. What started as a simple idea has grown into the largest day of service in America, with over 30 million people dedicating their time to help others each year. At Ridiculous Engineering, we’ve committed to service by raising awareness about hunger and supporting the millions of families facing food insecurity. Today, as we reflect on the significance of this movement, we encourage everyone to get involved. Together, we can fight hunger and foster a spirit of service and unity that extends beyond this day. 🌎🍽️ #HungerActionMonth #EndHunger #SocialImpact #RidiculousEngineering #FedsFeedFamilies https://lnkd.in/ez7VKk27

From Risk-Taker to “Good Girl” Growing up, I was taught that the only difference between boys and girls is who works harder. I was raised to take risks, to be brave, and to believe that with hard work and determination, anything was possible—no matter my gender. But when I came to the United States as an international student in STEM, I encountered a different narrative. I was often told, directly or indirectly, to “be a good girl.” To stay quiet. To not disrupt the status quo. To avoid asking for equality outright, as if doing so was too much to expect. It’s a strange paradox. In a field that thrives on challenging ideas, innovation, and pushing boundaries, I was being asked to shrink myself to fit within outdated norms. I’ve come to realize that being “good” doesn’t mean staying silent. It means standing up, even when it’s uncomfortable. It means advocating for equity, not just for myself but for everyone who has been told to “stay in their lane.” STEM has no gender—it thrives on talent, persistence, and innovation. Let’s break the mold that asks women to fit in rather than stand out. The next generation deserves better. To all the women and girls out there: Be brave, take risks, and never settle for anything less than equity. Because the world needs your courage, now more than ever.

We need to keep creating spaces where women feel empowered to take risks—and, just as importantly, to make mistakes. While Reshma Saujani's TED talk might not resonate with everyone, as we all come from different backgrounds and experiences, I can personally relate to her message. As a woman, especially in a leadership role, I see myself in her words. I've never applied for a job or role I didn’t feel fully qualified (often overqualified) for. I’ve defined success by perfection and hidden or internalized every mistake or failure. I've toned down my voice and enthusiasm to avoid being seen as too emotional, and I’ve made countless other adjustments to appear polished but not cocky, in control but not controlling, confident but not arrogant, and invested but not overzealous. Being aware of these habits gives me the opportunity to change them. As a leader, my responsibility is to create environments where others—especially women—can embrace the risks that come with a growth mindset, rather than staying safe with a fixed one.