DAYTON, Ohio — There was an 8.5% price increase for things like gas and food from July 2021 to 2022, according to latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. And while it’s down .5% from June, it’s still making it harder to afford essential items.

Buying groceries and getting gas has been a challenge lately for Wright-Patt Credit Union employee Norma Lecaros. As of Monday, gas prices are up 70 cents in Ohio compared to this time last year, according to AAA.

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 1,200 Wright-Patt Credit Union employees received $500 partner-employee stimulus checks

  • This check is helping employees pay for things like gas, groceries and medical expenses

  • Wright-Patt Credit Union invested $600,000 into the initiative

“I’m spending at least about $10 more each time I put gas in my car,” said Lecaros. 

An extra $10 is still more than she’s budgeted to pay for gas. 

“I’m kind of thinking every two weeks or every week when you put [gas in the car] that the prices will go down a little bit,” she said. 

That’s why Wright-Patt Credit Union has stepped up to help employees like Lecaros. Through a $600,000 investment it recently provided nearly 1,200 employees with $500 partner-employee stimulus checks. 

“At first I didn’t think it was true until someone mentioned it, but when we actually got the email letting us know I thought 'wow,'” Lecaros said. 

Now with extra money in her pocket, Lecaros decided to spend it on her son. 

“I thought I would give him or buy him something or do something for him,” she said. “I threw him a graduation party and that helped to get decorations and things that we got for his graduation party.”

Wright-Patt Credit Union President and CEO Tim Mislansky said it gives him great joy to help employees during these difficult times, and it’s something he said is not only worth it, but important as well. 

“We know that our employees are maybe struggling, with the increase cost at the gas station, or at the grocery store, or just in general,” he said. “So when the credit union does well and the members do well, we always want to take good care of our employees.”

Although this was just a one-time payment to employees, Lecaros said she’s very grateful.

“Now we can use it for something that we were thinking about purchasing, but at the same time it’s like I don’t have the money,” she said. “But when you get a bonus like this it does help a lot.”