A number of credit unions have donated money to help those affected by Hurricane Michael.
The League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates, said on Friday that it had distributed more than $70,000 to affected employees through the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation. Michael was a Category 4 storm that caused catastrophic damage across the Florida Panhandle and adjacent regions earlier this month.
The Southeastern Credit Union Foundation has received donations from peer credit unions, chapters and other leagues and associations, Juli Lewis, director of Southeastern Credit Union Foundation, said on Friday.
“Our partners and corporate credit unions always go to bat for the impacted credit unions and staff during these rough times too but we have a long way to go,” Lewis said. “The recovery process will take months, if not years so the donations are much needed and much appreciated. This is where the credit union motto of ‘people helping people’ shines.”
The $1.1 billion-asset IBM Southeast Employees’ Credit Union of Delray Beach, Fla., and the $656 million-asset USF Federal Credit Union in Tampa, Fla., have each donated $10,000 to the foundation. A portion of IBMSECU’s money was donated by its own employees. USF’s donation will assist credit unions in Panama City that were heavily damaged by the storm.
"Being based in Florida, we are well aware of the devastating impacts a hurricane can inflict on credit unions and their members," Richard Skaggs, USF FCU president and CEO, said in a statement. "We want to help our fellow credit unions get up and running so they can do the important work of serving their valued members and helping the entire region recover from the storm."
CO-OP Financial Services said Wednesday that it donated $10,000 to CUAid in order to help credit unions and their members in afflicted areas. CUAid was formed by the National Credit Union Foundation to receive disaster relief funds to assist credit unions. The network had donated the same amount last month after Hurricane Florence.
“Hurricane Michael is the most powerful storm on record to hit the Florida Panhandle, so we are again contributing to CUAid for the second month in a row to support the people of the Southeast,” Todd Clark, president and CEO for CO-OP, said in a statement. “As we always do in time of emergency, we have been contacting clients in the impacted areas to assess needs and determine where we can help.”
