The 25,000-square-foot headquarters of the $406 million Security Credit Union sits across the street from the Flint River and about a half mile from the water treatment plant of the city of Flint, Mich. Over the last several months, this small, struggling industrial city has been the subject of national headlines due to high hazardous levels of lead in its water system.

While the Flint water crisis is a serious public health problem, particularly for children, Chad Merrihew, senior vice president and COO for Security, said the national media coverage has been somewhat sensationalized by some national media outlets.

Although the credit unions headquartered in the city of Flint and those cooperatives based just outside of Flint have not had water quality problems in their facilities, the cooperatives have organized efforts to help those that have been directly affected by the water crisis. What's more, credit unions across Michigan and outside the state have also chipped in to help.

“The latest statistics we have seen released from here in Flint is that 92% of the water tests completed in the city of Flint showed no lead, which is contrary to what some media sources would lead people to believe,” Merrihew explained.

Since Security began testing its water, every result showed that lead was not detected.

“I think it's an important story and there are definitely people in the city of Flint that are being impacted with having lead in their water, but I also think the media tried to portray it as a citywide and countywide problem versus isolated instances and the problem being in isolated areas,” he said.

Merrihew said people are wary about using the water. He also noted Flint businesses have posted signs that their water was tested and is safe to use. Some businesses are even posting their water test results to assure their customers.

As the need for bottled water, water filters and water tests will continue, six credit unions in the local area that serve the city of Flint are donating $50,000 in gift cards to Flint city residents who are working with the state to monitor lead levels in the water in their homes.

“As a credit union founded in Flint more than 60 years ago, Financial Plus Credit Union is deeply saddened by the Flint water crisis and the impact it is having on children, families, the elderly and local businesses,” Olga Long, senior vice president of the $458 million Financial Plus Credit Union in Flint Township, Mich., said. “We understand the seriousness of the crisis and realize the community will need support for many years to come. We are committed to being a part of the support and to being on the Flint Chapter of Credit Union's Flint Water Crisis Task Force.”

Read more details in the April 20, 2016 print edition of Credit Union Times about how credit unions are helping communities in Flint.