Credit unions care about their communities and protecting the world we live in. As part of their longstanding commitment to the health and betterment of their community, Kingston Community Credit Union recently made a $5,000 donation to support the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund. This marks the credit union’s fifth year of the credit union’s partnership with the climate action fund, showcasing the institution’s support for climate action projects.

Learn more about this story below.

Source: Kingston Community Credit Union

Friday, Kingston Community Credit Union CEO, Jon Dessau, presented Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson, and Ian Cholmondeley of Extend-A-Family Kingston with a $5,000 donation toward the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund (KCCAF).

The Kingston Community Climate Action Fund (KCCAF), created by the City of Kingston, supports local charities and not-for-profits focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, diverting organic waste, and promoting climate adaptation and innovation. Since 2020, KCCU has partnered with the City of Kingston to support the KCCAF, committing to match donations made at their branches up to $5,000 each year. This ongoing collaboration helps drive local efforts to combat climate change and reduce emissions.

“Kingston Community Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with a cooperative mandate to combine banking services with a commitment to growing the health and welfare of our community. Climate Change is our biggest emerging risk, and we are grateful that we can help our local charities reduce greenhouse gas emissions in partnership with the City of Kingston, by sponsoring the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund for the fifth year in a row.” said Jon Dessau.

The Extend-A-Family Kingston (EAFK) project wasselected as the focus of the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund for 2024/2025. Funding from the KCCAF will support the expansion and enhancement of EAFK's Growability Hydroponic Greenhouse.

EAFK’s sustainable hydroponic vertical farming greenhouses have the capacity to produce 10,000 heads of fresh produce annually. To put this into perspective, the traditional cultivation of 10,000 heads of lettuce generates approximately 6 metric tons of CO2e emissions. In comparison, hydroponic vertical farming systems are projected to reduce CO2e emissions by 50-60%, generating only 2 to 3 metric tons of CO2e emissions.

By utilizing hydroponics, EAFK's vertical farming systems make significant strides in sustainability. These systems reduce water usage, eliminate pesticide dependency, and minimize transportation-related emissions, as the produce is grown locally year-round. With this funding, the Growability Hydroponic Greenhouse Project will expand operations to include two greenhouses, together capable of producing over 20,000 heads of fresh, locally grown produce each year.

Extend-A-Family Kingston is aiming to raise $30,000 in funding to support this initiative. The fundraising campaign through the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund will conclude on March 31, 2025.

Kingston Community Credit Union invites Kingston residents to support the project by donating at any of their three branches (18 Market Street, 795 Gardiners Road, and 1201 Division Street) before March 31st. Gifts of $20 and more made at a KCCU branch are eligible to receive a tax receipt, issued by the City of Kingston.

To learn more about the fund click here.

About Kingston Community Credit Union:

KCCU, a member-owned, democratically operated financial co-operative is open to those who work or reside in the greater Kingston area. For over 65 years, KCCU has made a positive impact on our local community with charitable giving, volunteerism, and financial education. They have a proud tradition of cooperative business ethics and continue to demonstrate their values: Cooperation, Integrity, Community, Sharing, Financial Strength, Education, and Respect for All. As part of the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, KCCU is committed to building, strengthening, and enhancing the lives of those in our community.

To find out more about KCCU visit us at www.kccu.ca.

Media contact: For media inquiries contact Jon Dessau, CEO (jdessau@kccu.ca) or David Bull, CFO (dbull@kccu.ca) at 613-384-5555.