Local organizations invited Darby Military Community members to join in "Military Saves Week" by setting a goal and making a plan.

The weeklong event was a partnership between Army Community Service, Global Credit Union and Community Bank and served as a reminder to strive for a culture of "encouraging savings and not debt."

"Military Saves Week is about checking where you are, knowing where you are going, and devising a plan to get there," said Evelyn Watkins, ACS event representative.

Throughout the week, ACS displayed a human-sized "Tree of Savings" that featured long-term-goal pictures that might put a focus on savings, in the hopes of enticing people to save money.

"As the community members made their pledges, they solidified their (commitment) by adding their one, five, 10 or 20 dollar-bill pledges to the 'Tree of Savings,'" said Watkins. "The tree served as a reminder to continue saving in order to reach their final goal." Each participant received a free credit report code and a packet of coupons to begin saving.

According to the Federal Trade Commission webpage, The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies-- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion-- to provide all American citizens with a free copy of their credit report upon request, once every 12 months.

"Staggering these reports-- that is, getting a report from a different company every few months-- can help monitor activity on our credit reports quarterly," explained Watkins.

The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the credit reporting agencies. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to credit reporting companies. To order a free annual report, visit annualcreditreport.com, or call 1-877-322-8228.

For their part of the program, the credit union focused on classes and a coupon-saving contest that began March 1 and will run through May 3. The contest will reward first- and second-place winners with a prize representing the "Fruits of their Savings" and encourage the Darby community to shop with coupons and reap the savings, Watkins said. To enter, shop with coupons and deposit your grocery receipt into the locked "coupon savings" box in the commissary. Make sure to write your name and telephone number on the back of the receipt.

Other activities that took place during the week were classes at the Youth Center to educate future leaders about starting to save money at an early age and classes for Soldiers on how to help set up an automatic saving plan, and translating/understanding Italian bills and the billing system.

The campaign continues but Military Saves Week closed with an open house at each of the financial providers on Camp Darby.