NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) invites the public to “Shred the word – protect yourself from identity theft” with free shredding opportunities in both Lake and Mendocino counties.

Anyone may bring up to five boxes or bags of old documents for free shredding to the credit union branch at 14866 Olympic Drive in Clearlake between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon on Thursday, April 28, or to the branch at 963 11th St., Lakeport, during the same hours on Thursday, May 26.

Individuals taking advantage of the free shred event do not have to be members of the credit union, according to Jamey Gill, Mendo Lake Credit Union’s director of Marketing and Community Outreach. It is open to the public.

Additional “Shred the Word” events are scheduled for May 27 at MLCU’s Ukiah branch and April 14 at the Fort Bragg branch. Items for shredding may be delivered between 9 and noon on each of the planned days.

Gill said MLCU encourages people to take steps to protect themselves from identity theft by destroying old confidential documents that are no longer needed for tax filing or other purposes.

Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. MLCU branches are located in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah.

For more information, contact the Mendo Lake Credit Union Member Service Center at 707-468-0161.