WS Chronicle

Staff Report

The Winston-Salem Chronicle

Winston-Salem residents looking to safely dispose of old tax returns, bank statements and other sensitive paperwork will have an opportunity to do so later this month, as State Employees’ Credit Union hosts a free community Shred Day on Saturday, March 14.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at SECU’s branch at 134 S. Stratford Road. It is part of a statewide series of 30 Shred Day events planned for 2026, including eight scheduled in March as North Carolinians prepare to file taxes.

SECU officials say the timing is intentional.

“Protecting personal information is an important part of financial well-being,” SECU Chief Delivery Officer Jamie Applequist said in a statement. “We have been offering this service for over a decade and hear each year how important it is to those who do not have access to a safe option to destroy documents containing personally identifiable information.”

Why shredding matters

Identity theft and financial fraud remain persistent concerns, particularly during tax season when Social Security numbers, income statements and bank account information are often circulating in paper form.

Discarded documents containing personally identifiable information — such as account numbers, birth dates or addresses — can be retrieved from trash bins or recycling containers if not properly destroyed. Shredding reduces the risk that criminals can piece together information to open fraudulent accounts, file false tax returns or access existing financial records.

Community shredding events provide a secure alternative for residents who may not own home shredders or who need to dispose of large volumes of documents.

During the Winston-Salem event, residents may bring personal documents such as:

• Bank statements
• Tax records
• Credit card statements
• Medical billing statements
• Other sensitive paperwork

Staples, paper clips and folders can remain attached. However, the event does not accept non-paper items such as electronics or batteries, and it cannot be used for commercial or business shredding.

Each event typically runs for three hours but may end earlier if shredding trucks reach capacity. SECU employees will assist with traffic flow and collection of documents. Because the event is held outdoors, schedules may be adjusted in the event of severe weather.

Statewide effort ahead of tax deadlines

The March 14 Winston-Salem event is one of eight scheduled across North Carolina this month. Additional March locations include Roxboro, New Bern, Clyde, Carthage, Belmont, Greensboro and Oxford.

In total, SECU plans to host 30 Shred Day events in 2026, stretching from Boone to Manteo, with 22 additional events scheduled later in the year.

The credit union has offered the service for more than a decade as part of its community outreach and financial education efforts.

SECU, a not-for-profit financial cooperative founded 88 years ago, serves more than 2.9 million members across North Carolina. Federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration, the organization manages approximately $57 billion in assets and operates 275 branch offices statewide.

What residents should know

The Winston-Salem Shred Day comes as many households sort through paperwork ahead of federal and state tax filing deadlines in April. Financial experts recommend keeping tax returns and supporting documents for several years, but older records no longer needed should be securely destroyed.

For residents in Winston-Salem and surrounding communities, the March 14 event offers a free and secure way to do just that.

A full schedule of SECU’s 2026 Shred Day events is available at ncsecu.org/branch-services/shred-days.

Residents are encouraged to arrive early, as shredding trucks may close once capacity is reached.