FERGUSON, Mo. — Although Alliance Credit Union's luck continues to hold out amid the riots with an office located at the center of the civil unrest here that is undamaged, local residents are far less fortunate.
That has Alliance concerned about the well-being of the community and the membership.
The nighttime clashes between police and protestors failed to subside this past weekend, and the National Guard has been called in to attempt to control the situation.
This St. Louis suburb has been under siege since Aug. 9, when white police officer Darren Wilson fatally shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. At least two people were injured this past weekend, including one person who was shot.
Most of the weekend's incidents occurred right near Alliance's office and two blocks north, said Alliance Human Resource Director Frank Evans.
"The police line is being set at the intersection of West Florissant Avenue and Ferguson Road, which is the intersection where our branch is," he said."They are trying to keep the protesters to the north on West Florissant."
Evans said that he isn't sure how long local residents can handle the stress.
"People in the neighborhood are getting worn out," he said.
"During the day, they clean up and rebuild. Then they go home at night, and when they come out the next morning they have to start over again," Evans said.
The $215 million CU's office here touches the border of Ferguson and the city of Jennings. Police began their chase of Brown over a week ago just outside Alliance's door.
All around Alliance's office, businesses have broken windows, knocked-down doors, and one is even burned to the ground.
Last Friday, Evans said that he hoped that Alliance's building would make it through the weekend.
"And it did. No damage at all," Evans said. "I hope our luck holds out," he said.
A few employees who live nearby aren't getting much sleep at night, Evans said.
"But other than that, there's been no personal impact to the CU," he said.
Alliance, based in Fenton, Mo., is working on a few localized initiatives to provide special support to the community.
"But I won't have details until later this week," Evans said.
