ēCO Credit Union has a strong commitment to the communities where our members live, work, and play. Through the #ēCOmmunity program, we are proud to recognize people and community groups who go above and beyond for their community. Each month in 2020, members of the community who embody the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” will be nominated by ēCO employees to be “Credit Unioned.”
Je’Nae Washington, Branch Manager of the McCalla Branch, nominated Pastor Douglas Caddell to be “Credit Unioned” for the month of July.
Pastor Douglas Caddell has been the pastor at Canaan Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama, for over 15 years. Previously, Pastor Caddell taught at McAdory High School for 26 years. Pastor Caddell, his wife, Mrs. Bobbie Caddell, and son, Matt Caddell, have been faithful members of the McCalla community. Mrs. Caddell teaches at McAdory Elementary, and Matt Caddell is a graduate of McAdory High School and the University of Alabama, where he played football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Je’Nae Washington, who nominated Pastor Caddell says, “Pastor Caddell is always looking for ways to financially educate his church members. He is an active member at ēCO and promotes ēCO's A.L. Bratcher Scholarship each year to students in his congregation, as well as students within the community”.
“I have enjoyed living and working in this McCalla and McAdory community," says Pastor Caddell. “This community has been wonderful to me. To me, the people here are just great people. ēCO Credit Union has been such a blessing to my family and our people in the community. When the A.L. Bratcher Credit Union could not continue to exist, ēCO Credit Union partnered with us to offer the A.L. Bratcher Scholarship in honor of A.L. Bratcher, who served as a pastor of Canaan Baptist Church and founded a credit union there. I am so glad that his legacy has continued on in this community through the scholarship to help individuals. It makes me excited to see people helping each other succeed in life."
Each year, ēCO awards two high school seniors the A.L. Bratcher Scholarship. The winners of the 2020-2021 $2,500 Scholarship were Kristen Jones of McAdory High School and Tyler West of Thompson High School. You can read more about the recipients here.
Je’Nae Washington, Branch Manager of the McCalla Branch, says she nominated Pastor Caddell because he truly embodies the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.” “Pastor Caddell has such a positive spirit about him. He goes above and beyond to help anyone in need,” said Washington.
Je’Nae and McCalla Branch employees, Teena Brasher and Hailey Hyde were proud to surprise Pastor Caddell and his wife with a gift card for dinner on ēCO as a small way to say thank you for his dedication to his congregation and the community.
“This is such a humbling experience. Part of the motto of the student organization of FFA was ‘Living to Serve,’ and that is my life motto. We just want to serve our community. We do what we can to help one another because we are all in this together," says Pastor Caddell. “I was surprised that I was nominated, but I appreciate it. I appreciate Je’Nae, ēCO Credit Union, and all that you are doing in this community.”
True to his nature, Pastor Caddell offered up a few words of wisdom after being “Credit Unioned” by the McCalla Branch staff. “I would like to encourage our young people to start saving. Our time is so important as far as money management is concerned. The sooner they start, the better it is for them, and ēCO Credit Union is the ideal place to start their financial journey," says Pastor Caddell. 
ēCO Credit Union is grateful for Pastor Caddell’s commitment and his investment in the community, especially educating and advocating for financial literacy. Thank you, Je’Nae Washington for nominating a community leader like Pastor Caddell for ēCO’s #ēCOmmunity program. Thank you, Pastor Cadell for your leadership and dedication to the community!