Fairmont Federal Credit Union donates to rebuilding Soup Opera
Mar. 8—FAIRMONT — Fairmont Federal Credit Union’s mission can be summed up in one simple phrase: people helping people.
So, to celebrate its 85th anniversary, credit union officials allowed another Fairmont institution, Soup Opera, to continue its own caring mission.
“Part of our mission is that we always want the communities we serve to thrive because of this unwavering community support,” said Stacey Harvey, vice president of market development. “So we’re always looking for ways to give back, whether it’s on time, or whether it’s donating to causes, but it’s definitely a focus area of our mission.”
Fairmont Federal donated $1,939 to Soup Opera on Thursday, a nod to the year the credit union was founded. Harvey said the work the Soup Opera does is a reflection of Fairmont Federal’s own work to help the community, in a different but no less important capacity.
Contributing to the community is part of Fairmont Federal’s institutional DNA. The credit union was initially established to serve employees of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. Some employees pooled their money, which then allowed them to lend it to other people, who could use their loan to start a business, buy a home, or do anything that would help build Fairmont.
While Fairmont Federal provides financial instruments through which the community can thrive, Soup Opera provides essential physical support to many underserved individuals. Harvey said the organization provides food and clothing, as well as hygiene products.
The donation comes as Soup Opera rebuilds after last year’s Thanksgiving floods, which knocked their building out of commission days before the holiday. A break in the laundry room flooded the lower level, resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars of food. Walls, ceilings and floors needed to be replaced or repaired.
The community rallied to support the nonprofit, restoring lost food and ensuring Soup Opera could continue to help underserved people. Central United Methodist has opened its doors to principal Misty Tennant’s staff, for now Soup Opera is working at that church while their space is rebuilt.
“We’re really lucky and I was excited,” Tennant said. “We took a photo in front of the Soupe Opera this morning. And 85 years for them. It’s great.”
The last remaining asbestos is currently being removed from the Soup Opera building, but reconstruction has not yet begun. Tennant hoped the demolition would take between three and four weeks, but the entire process took longer than expected. Currently, she is targeting late summer or early fall for reopening.
The main challenge was navigating insurance.
“Getting the insurance company to move hasn’t been great because they keep dragging their feet, but I keep emailing them and bugging them, just like Crossroads,” Tennant said. “Crossroads is amazing. If anyone ever needed Crossroads, it’s been great.”
Crossroads is the contractor authorized by insurance to rebuild the Soup Opera.
Tennant said help from West Virginia state Sen. Michael Oliverio, R-Monongalia County, was also key in helping the insurance company get back up and running. Oliverio did not respond to a phone call at the time of publication.
Harvey said Fairmont Federal’s original plan was to provide volunteers to help Soup Opera accomplish its work, but Tennant informed them that would not be feasible since the organization was not yet back in its premises. Instead, the credit union opted for donation. The money will help Soup Opera get food when Tennant visits Sam’s Club twice a week to restock.
For the remainder of the year, Fairmont Federal will identify additional organizations to donate $1,939 to as the celebrations continue. He hopes to select an agency monthly throughout the year.
“We’ve been in this particular community for 85 years, but we’ve expanded to serve five different counties in north-central West Virginia,” Harvey said. “Now Fairmont Federal serves Marion, Monongalia, Harrison, Taylor and Preston counties. So we appreciate all those people. It’s nice to be able to give back.”
Contact Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com
