BATON ROUGE, La.—The number of Louisiana credit union employees affected by statewide flooding has reached approximately 300, and the generosity of the credit union movement is matching the pace of the need, CUNA reported.
The flooding is now called the worst natural disaster to strike the United States since Hurricane Sandy four years ago.
The National Credit Union Foundation reported that donations to CUAid.coop nearly doubled—to more than $106,000--over the course of last week.
“It’s remarkable that the credit union community heard the renewed call for help, and we’ve now doubled the amount of funds to support those credit union people in need,” Christopher Morris, Foundation communications director, said in a statement.
Among the donations to CUAid was $10,000 from Credit Unions Care Foundation of Virginia, and $10,000 from Los Angeles FCU.
As CUToday.info previously reported, CUs are taking part in the “Louisiana CU Strong Challenge” from the Louisiana Credit Union League. The Louisiana CU Strong Challenge works this way: Credit unions will post a video or their official "challenge accepted" photo using the hashtag #LACUStrong. The photo/video is then also sent to LCUL VP of Communications and Public Relations Lacey Hyer. #LACUStrong has gone beyond the state’s borders: Members Exchange CU, Ridgeland, Miss., challenged all the state’s credit unions to join; DIRECT FCU, Needham, Mass., submitted a video; and PSCU donated $5,000.
“Louisianians are extremely resilient and will overcome this tragic event,” Lacy Hyer, league vice president of communications and public relations, told CUNA. “However, the need for assistance is greater than ever before. The outpouring of support from our credit union family has touched the hearts of all those affected, and they are very grateful.”
Funds from the challenge will be deposited into the Louisiana Credit Union Foundation designated fund and distributed directly to affected credit union employees.