St. Paul CUs part of community tutoring program

ST. PAUL, Minn. (2/20/07)--Students looking for help with their homework can find it every afternoon at Rhondo Community Outreach Library in St. Paul, thanks to volunteers from four credit unions and the Minnesota Credit Union Network.

Brian Roegge, president of $37 million asset Como Northtown Community CU, reached out to other credit unions to launch the joint volunteer effort.

Gailyn Holmgren, right, of the Minnesota Credit Union Network works with a high school student at Rhondo Community Outreach Library. (Photo provided by the Minnesota Credit Union Network)

At a meeting with his City Council representative, Roegge discovered that Como Northtown lacked the manpower to take on major community involvement projects.

So Roegge contacted nearly a dozen other credit unions, eventually recruiting volunteers from City & County CU, Pipefitters Steamfitters CU, St. Paul FCU and the state league, as well as Como Northtown.

During the school year, credit union volunteers can be found at the library on the city's northern edge from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.

Working alongside other community volunteers, they offer tutoring to students, new Americans learning English and adults studying for General Education Degrees (GEDs).

On an average day, five tutors are likely to work with 40 children and adults on subjects that range from basic reading to higher-level algebra.

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