MADISON, Wis.—The National Credit Union Federation of Korean (NACUFOK) has made a “sizeable donation” of facemasks to the World Council of Credit Unions.
The donation marks the second donation in less than a year as part of an effort to help credit union systems still facing a critical need for more personal protective equipment (PPE) in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, according to WOCCU.
The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable and engagement arm of World Council, has in turn repackaged those masks and paid to distribute them to credit union systems in at least five countries through the second wave of its Project Storm Break PPE initiative, WOCCU reported.
The organization said 20,000 of the masks will go to credit unions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, where the effects of both COVID-19 and an ongoing volcanic eruption are being felt. Credit union systems in Peru, Panama, Kenya and Barbados have also requested and will receive masks, WOCCU said.
The distribution comes less than one year after NACUFOK and the Worldwide Foundation teamed up to deliver 40,000 masks to CU employees and members in more than 30 countries during the first wave of Project Storm Break’s PPE initiative, WOCCU said.
Responding to ‘Need’
According to WOCCU, NACUFOK President and CEO Younsik Kim, who serves as chair of the WOCCU COVID-19 Response Committee, once again led the effort to purchase the masks and get them to World Council for distribution.
“The Worldwide Foundation continues to leverage Project Storm Break, our disaster relief fund, to respond to credit union systems in need during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mike Reuter, executive director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions. “Contributions by credit unions, individuals and system partners allow Project Storm Break to operate annually and provide this support.”
WOCCU said donations to replenish the Project Storm Break fund are appreciated and needed to sustain Worldwide Foundation's relief efforts. For info, visit Project Storm Break.