A credit to their community
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 8 months AGO
Octavian Rivas and Roxanne Kusler, business development officers with Idaho Central Credit Union, stand in front of the Idaho Youth Ranch Thrift Store ready to give out gift cards on Friday.
BILL BULEY/Press
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | April 17, 2021 1:06 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — Octavian Rivas and Roxanne Kusler are business development officers with Idaho Central Credit Union.
On a sunny Friday, they were sure they had the best jobs in the world.
“A couple times a year we go out into the community and we do a give back,” Kusler said. “That’s what we’re doing today.”
“We love it,” Rivas added.
The two, wearing ICCU green shirts and matching green shoes, greeted customers at the Idaho Youth Ranch with $25 gift cards. Fifty of them, to be exact.
Gail Henderson received one, but she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it when Rivas initially held out a gift card, offered a friendly "hi" and explained it was a gift.
“No way,” Henderson said.
Yes way, Rivas and Kusler responded.
Henderson asked if she had to buy something and was assured, no, it was free, just ICCU’s way of saying thanks and giving to the community.
The gift cards could be used right then or saved for another day.
Later, as Henderson shopped in the store, she said the unexpected gift was "a delight and a great surprise. It was just a boost to my day.”
“You don’t believe things that are just given to you like that,” Henderson added.
When Rivas approached another couple headed into the Fourth Street thrift store, they tried to hurry past and eyed him suspiciously. Then, as he explained ICCU was providing free gift cards, they relaxed and smiled.
“Really?” the man said. “Wow. Thank you.”
“Enjoy,” a smiling Rivas said as he gave them a friendly wave.
Rivas and Kusler started the day of giving at a downtown wellness bar and also gave away 50 $30 gift cards outside Grocery Outlet on U.S. 95 Friday afternoon.
They also handed out travel mugs, key chains and cellphone holders, courtesy of ICCU.
The reactions were similar — disbelief, doubt, delight. “Most people are pretty excited about it,” Kusler said. “Kind of like they don’t believe it for a second and then they’re very grateful.”
Rivas has worked for ICCU about 4 1/2 years, and Kusler has been there close to two years. Both were happy to have been tasked with what basically amounted to spreading some joy on a beautiful morning and afternoon.
“It makes our day,” Kusler said. “It’s the best part of our job.”
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