Spreading Holiday Cheer: Nuvision's December of Giving

December came with long days and full calendars. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much we accomplished!

Between the holidays, school schedules, and everything else stacked on top of each other, December seems like it flew by. But in the middle of all that, a lot happened across our communities — kids shopping alongside officers, toy bins filling up in our branches, and events that brought families together during the busiest time of year.

This is a look back at how our teams, members, and community partners came together across Southern California, Alaska, Wyoming, and Arizona.

Southern California: Familiar Traditions, Real Moments

In Southern California, December meant returning to a couple of events that have become true traditions for us.

On December 10, our team volunteered for the fourth year in a row at the Huntington Beach Shop with a Cop event. The morning moved fast — gift wrapping, keeping things organized, and helping wherever help was needed. What stood out most were the moments in between: kids laughing, officers taking the time to connect, and families feeling supported without feeling singled out.

A week later, on December 17, we joined the Costa Mesa Shop with a Cop event for the third year. The day started with breakfast at IHOP, where students from Newport-Mesa Unified School District sat down with local officers before heading to Target to shop. Watching kids move through the store with excitement — and confidence — never gets old. It’s not just about gifts. It’s about feeling seen and supported by the people around you.

Our NuvisionCares Holiday Toy Drive was happening alongside all of this. Branches across Southern California filled collection bins for Toys for Tots, thanks to generous members, team members, and community partners. Behind the scenes, branch teams sorted, organized, and packed donations to make sure everything was ready to be delivered locally. Seeing those bins filled was a reminder of how much can happen when people pitch in together.

Check out our recap video from the Huntington Beach event is available on Facebook:
https://fb.watch/E5vb2cNHs4/

Bay Area: Toys for Tots, Powered by the Community

Across the Bay Area, this year’s Toys for Tots drive came together through steady generosity from members and neighbors throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Over the course of the season, collection bins at our branches filled — in several locations more than once — as people stopped by with donations or sought out nearby drop-off locations through the Toys for Tots directory.

By the close of the drive, an estimated 10 collection bins had been filled across six Bay Area branches, helping provide holiday gifts for children and families throughout the region.

What stood out wasn’t a single large gesture, but the consistency of participation — toys added during everyday visits and community members choosing to take part simply because the opportunity was visible and easy to act on. Together, those moments reflected a shared commitment to supporting local families during the holiday season

Alaska and Wyoming: Keeping Giving Close to Home

In Alaska and Wyoming, the focus stayed local. Every Nuvision branch participated in toy collections, working with regional nonprofits to make sure donations stayed within the communities they came from.

Across Alaska, toys supported programs like Shop with a Hero and Project Angel Tree through Anchorage Cops for Community, along with MatSu Special Santa in Wasilla, Fairbanks Santas Helpers, Operation Children First in Kenai, and Family Promise of Juneau. Each partnership meant kids and families received support right where they live

In Wyoming, branches in Casper and Cheyenne collected toys for Toys for Tots chapters serving Natrona and Laramie Counties. The response from members and volunteers made a real difference for families throughout the region.

Anchorage had a few standout moments this year. Our fourth year partnering with Shop with a Hero brought 52 kids together for a day of shopping and connection. Our team helped provide extra gifts and set up a hot cocoa and coffee station — a small thing that added warmth to a cold December day.

We also supported the Lisa Whitmore Shop with a Cop & Firefighter event for the sixth year. Each child received an additional $100 gift card, giving them the freedom to choose gifts that mattered most to them. Our CEO, Roger Ballard, joined volunteers in wrapping presents and spending time with families. Many of the kids supported through this event come from local shelters, and the goal was simple: make sure they felt cared for and included during the holidays.

In Cheyenne, this year marked our first time supporting the Shop with a Cop event. A $1,500 contribution helped make the day possible, and our local branch team worked closely with law enforcement and community partners to support the event from start to finish.

And we can’t forget this year’s Added Advantage Holiday Giveaway

All of this community work happened alongside another December tradition that mattered to a lot of members — our Added Advantage Holiday Cash Giveaway. It put extra cash into members’ accounts during a month when it’s usually needed most. It also helped direct support to local organizations serving families in our communities.

Every prize awarded included a $500 donation in the winner’s name to local charities supporting families facing hunger, housing insecurity, and tough circumstances. Those donations went to organizations like Robyne’s Nest in Southern California, Loaves and Fishes in Northern California, The Children’s Lunchbox in Alaska, Friday Food Bag Foundation in Wyoming, and Paz de Cristo in Arizona.

It was another reminder that when members engage, the impact reaches further than one household.

Looking Back at December

As December draws to a close, we're filled with gratitude for the incredible ways our Nuvision teams, members, and community partners came together to spread joy across Southern California, Alaska, Wyoming, and Arizona. Thanks to everyone who played a part in making December what it was — and for helping make the holidays a little easier for families across the communities we serve.