ShareNet is pleased to partner with Kitsap Community Resources, Peninsula Credit Union, and American Financial Solutions to bring a series of financial education classes to Kingston beginning March 21.
The first class, “Understanding Credit and Credit Reports,” is March 21, 5:30-7 p.m., at Bayside Community Church, 25990 Barber Cut-Off Road in Kingston. The class will be taught by Peninsula Credit Union.
The class is free. Childcare, a light meal and snacks will be available, as well as prizes and coupons for shopping at ShareNet’s thrift store. Classes like these are usually held in Poulsbo, so we are glad to make it a real local event with a short drive time for attendees.
Credit is often one of the least well-understood issues in our financial lives and one of the most problematic. This class will demystify the subject, let people know what credit companies are really up to, and assist them in making the right credit choices for their personal situations.
The next class will be “Collections and Debt Repayment Options” on May 16, presented by American Financial Solutions. Contact ShareNet or Bayside Community Church to register, or visit our website sharenetfoodbank.org or Facebook page www.facebook.com/sharenetfoodbankandthriftstore.
Kitsap Community Resources (www.kcr.org) is our county’s most centralized and integrated social services agency, providing services such as prenatal care, childhood education, and energy, housing, and employment assistance programs. Providing help for people in hard times in Kitsap for more than 40 years, KCR’s mission is to provide resources to low-income individuals that promote self-sufficiency.
In the same spirit, ShareNet offers these classes in an effort to give our clients tools that provide an improved opportunity to move out of poverty. Earlier this month, Kitsap Community Resources held its Super Saturday Event at its site in Bremerton. The event offered free tax preparation, free credit reports and credit counseling, information on banking services, low-income legal services, college scholarship information and help with FAFSA, and home ownership programs. These events are held regularly through the year. Check KCR’s website for more information on the next event.
American Financial Solutions is a nonprofit credit counseling and financial education agency which helps clients get out of debt. AFS teaches debt management, working with a client’s creditors to repay those debts under the best terms available. Its certified credit counselors help clients understand how to control monthly fees and interest rates, and the options available for getting out of debt.
If you’re interested in lowering interest rates and monthly payments, waiving fees and stopping collection calls, then this counseling and these classes are for you.
Part of Peninsula Credit Union’s mission is to listen, serve, and educate members about their increasingly complex finances. ShareNet also believes in providing pertinent educational opportunities to our clients where available and we are deeply grateful for the willingness of these partners to bring this information directly to Kingston.
“Money Management and Budgeting” will be the July 18 class, followed by “Banking and Identify Theft” Oct. 13. If you belong to a church, business, service group, or other organization who may be interested in helping promote this educational series or in contributing attendees, please let us know.
— Contact Mark Ince at sharenetdirector@centurytel.net.
