Piedmont Advantage Credit Union Spends Day Off Serving Its Communities

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Oct. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day, while many businesses took the day off, Piedmont Advantage Credit Unionemployees rolled up their sleeves and got to work serving meals, organizing donations and listening to the stories of neighbors facing financial hardship.

At Piedmont Advantage, the day is known as Simply Service Day, an annual tradition since 2021 that turns a federal holiday into a celebration of purpose, belonging and community.

"Simply Service^® Day reflects our purpose statement and brand promise: 'More Than Banking. It's Belonging'," said PACU President & CEO Dion Williams. "Belonging means being present for our members and communities, shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbors and lending a hand where it's needed most."

This year, PACU volunteered with 10 organizations throughout North Carolina: City Lights Ministry in Winston-Salem, Good Shepherd in Wilmington, Goodwill in Greensboro, Help Inc. in Eden, Hope of Mooresville, Hospitality House in Charlotte, Ronald McDonald House in Winston-Salem, Samaritan Ministries in Winston-Salem, Second Harvest Food Bank in Winston-Salem and Storehouse for Jesus in Mocksville.

Each site reflects the diverse needs of the communities PACU serves, from housing and hunger relief, to health and hope. Seeing the struggles of those living in these communities helps employees better understand how to meet members' needs more effectively.

"These volunteer experiences strengthen how we serve our members daily," Assistant Vice President of Organizational Development Jean Golden-Rumer said. "When employees see families' challenges firsthand, it deepens our empathy and reinforces our commitment to financial solutions that truly make a difference."

And it's not just member-facing employees who benefit from this opportunity.

Many PACU employees are "back office" and don't interact directly with members regularly. Simply Service^® Day demonstrates that regardless of an employee's role, they are part of a larger mission to improve lives. And for those regularly out in our communities, Simply Service^® Day offers them another perspective of what members and potential members are experiencing outside of their financial needs.
Each year, the moments that stand out the most for Golden-Rumer are watching employees from different departments work side-by-side, enjoying this experience as they serve and prepare meals, sort clothes or stock canned goods together.

"I'm reminded that service is not just about what we give but how it bonds us as a team," Golden-Rumer said. "I grew up in an underserved area, so working for an organization prioritizing giving back fills me with pride and purpose. I hope we continue this tradition for years to come."

Williams agrees and hopes all PACU employees get a renewed sense of why their work matters, whether their roles are member-facing or behind the scenes.

"On Simply Service^® Day, we all have the chance to feel the impact of service in a human, personal way," Williams said. "Simply Service^® is more than symbolic. It's a statement of who we are and how we hope to impact our communities."

About Piedmont Advantage Credit Union
Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., and founded in 1949 to meet the financial needs of Piedmont Aviation and Piedmont Airline employees, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union has grown to serve member-owners, who reside, work, worship, attend school or operate a business in one of the six counties it serves in North Carolina or who are employed by one of its many employer companies. These six counties are Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg and Rockingham. A not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution, Piedmont Advantage still has a strong presence in aviation with its six branches and 10 ATMs throughout the service region.

SOURCE Piedmont Advantage Credit Union