Bellingham, WA – May 7, 2026
WECU will host an upcoming Bite of Reality event at Sedro-Woolley High School on May 20, continuing its commitment to equipping local students with real-world financial skills through hands-on learning experiences.
Bite of Reality allows students to step into the shoes of adults navigating real-world financial scenarios. Each participant receives a fictional occupation, salary, credit score, family, loan debt, and medical insurance obligations. Using the Bite of Reality app, they make decisions on purchasing necessities such as housing, transportation, food, and childcare, while also interacting with persuasive “salespeople.” These simulated financial challenges provide teens with valuable insights into the complexities of adult financial responsibilities.
During the event, WECU employee volunteers will manage all the stations including the credit union station, assisting participants with credit card payments, overdrawn accounts, and savings-related decisions. “We are excited to bring the Bite of Reality program to Sedro-Woolley High School,” said Reid Frederick, WECU Director of Community Impact. “Financial literacy is a critical life skill, and this event offers students a practical, engaging way to build confidence in managing their finances.”
WECU’s Bite of Reality event is designed to help students develop essential financial skills such as budgeting, saving, managing unexpected expenses, and understanding credit. This free program helps fill a gap by providing real-world financial education that many students may not otherwise receive. Over the last few years WECU has hosted Bite of Reality Fairs at high schools and middle schools in Whatcom County and looks forward to expanding Bite of Reality to more schools in the future.
About WECU
WECU is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union headquartered in Bellingham, Washington. WECU was founded in 1936 as the Bellingham Teacher’s Credit Union. Today, it serves over 170,000 members with more than $3.0 billion in assets. WECU is committed to enhancing the financial well-being of its members and making a positive impact in the communities it serves.
