Prevail Bank’s nine locations in Northcentral and Westcentral Wisconsin will hold a Free Community Shred Day Event for paper documents. In addition to protecting one’s identity (by shredding personal confidential information), the poundage of paper accumulated at each branch equates to cash for a local nonprofit. For every pound of paper shredded, Prevail Bank will donate a dollar, up to $1,000 to a nonprofit. Everyone is welcome to participate. Public donations to the nonprofits will be accepted prior to and during the event as well.
Listed below (in chronological order) are the branch locations, dates, times, and the local nonprofits to benefit. Three boxes per consumer will be accepted or as capacity allows.
•Wisconsin Rapids: April 12, 9-11 a.m., United Way of South Wood & Adams County
•Owen: April 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m, Owen-Withee Area Historical Society •Marshfield: May 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Marshfield Area Pet Shelter (MAPS) •Wausau: May 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin
•Phillips: May 17, 1-4 p.m., The Red Apple Center
• Baraboo: May 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., People Helping People
•Medford: May 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Suicide Awareness & Prevention
• Eau Claire: May 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Joshua’s Camp
•Stevens Point: To be scheduled during its Grand Reopening in early August.
From an identity theft perspective, according to the National Council on Identity Theft Protection, 1 million more reports of identity theft and fraud, totaling 5.7 million, were reported in 2021 than 2020. Alarmingly, the number of identity theft scenarios in the U.S. is nearly three times higher than in other countries and 33percent of Americans have faced some kind of identity theft attempt. Shredding confidential information is strongly recommended as a safeguard.