Two Local Credit Unions Partner Up to Offer Free Shredding Services to the Community

Madison Credit Union and Madison Fire Department Credit Union team up to serve.

Approximately 230 vehicles and more neighborhood residents on foot, came to Emerson Elementary School on Saturday, April 15th to shred it up.

Madison Credit Union and the Madison Fire Department Credit Union partnered with Pellitteri Data Destruction to host a free shred event for Madison residents. The event started about 30 minutes before the scheduled 8am start time and lasted almost 30 minutes past the 10am finish time. The Pellitteri driver and shredder even hopped out of the truck after already loading everything to leave, so he could help one last straggler who drove in at around 10:25.

Pellitteri shredded all items on the spot, providing the maximum level of security for the public’s sensitive documents. Shred events are great way to keep people’s documents safe from identity theft. Plus, it’s great for the environment as all the paper will be recycled. In total we were able to shred 4.81 tons of paper (10,604 lbs.). Paper that will be turned into paper towels, napkins, tissue, and toilet paper.

Each ton of recycled paper can:

• Save 17 trees\
• Saves 380 gallons of oil
• Produces 73 percent less air pollution than using virgin materials.
• Saves enough energy to power the average American home for six months.
• Saves 7,000 gallons of water.
• Saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE).

The MCU & MFDCU Shred Event recycled 4.81 tons of paper which:

• Saved 81 trees
• Saved 1,827 gallons of oil
• Saved 14.43 cubic yards of landfill space
• Saved 33,670 gallons of water
• And saved enough energy to power the average American home for over 2 years!

Our credit unions did not charge the public to shred their papers, however we did collect donations for The River Food Pantry. By doing so we raised $1,063.52 in monetary donations and 489 lbs. of food and hygiene products. Each week, The River Food Pantry serves over 2,500 families with free meals, groceries, and personal care items.

“We were humbled to see the size of some of the donations given both monetarily and in-kind by those coming out to shred”, said Rebecca Lauryssens, Marketing Specialist at Madison CU. She continued, “Partnering last year with the Madison Fire Department Credit Union felt like an obvious choice as both of our CUs and our memberships strive to serve the local community. And based on the continued growth and success of the event, we will continue to offer this service to our members and the community.”

Madison Credit Union was founded in 1936 as the City Employees Credit Union, by the then mayor, James Law, as a way to help city employees and their families after the depression. After merges with the Madison Metro CU, Madison School Employees CU and the Madison Police CU, they later expanded their charter to anyone living or working in Dane County or the surrounding counties.

Donate or volunteer your time to The River Food Pantry.

Find a shredding event near your or contact Pellitteri Data Destruction to organize shred your personal documents here.