Credit Unions Step Up During 'Difficult' Times in Wildfire Zones Out West
Credit unions activate emergency loans as well as open up parking lots for evacuated members.
More than 100 wildfires continued to burn along the west coast on Tuesday from California to Washington as credit union members and employees continued grappling with evacuation orders and unhealthy smoke-filled air, as well as the loss of homes and businesses.
The Northwest Credit Union Foundation (NWCUF) has activated its disaster relief program to assist credit unions and its employees impacted by the wildfires. The NWCUF serves credit unions in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
“We have been in close contact with credit union leaders across the region, and have learned how dire the situation is,” Sharee Adkins, NWCUF executive director, said. “Hundreds of credit union employees have been evacuated, some have lost their homes, and many of the credit union branches need supplies, employee support or other services.”
According to the Northwest Credit Union Association, credit unions, despite the worsening conditions around Portland, Ore., have been helping out those members who have been ordered to evacuate.
For instance, at the Portland-based Ironworkers USA Federal Credit Union ($53.4 million in assets and nearly 7,000 members), some members weren’t sure where to go and ended up in the credit union’s parking lot, looking for a place to rest.
“We’re like family here. Two members rolled up with their RVs, horse trailers, kids, even goats,” CEO Teri Robinson said. “They were just trying to find somewhere safe to go. Their houses were within feet of the fire.”
The credit union supplied them with dinner, activities for the children and extra water. The credit union also set up a donation website to help members in the community who have been impacted by the wildfires.
According to Aaron Goff, president/CEO of the Milwaukie, Ore.-based Clackamas Community Federal Credit Union ($485.5 million in assets and more than 33,000 members), his team has been providing special assistance to members, even though at least two dozen employees had to evacuate their homes and two branches have been forced to close.
In Roseburg, Ore., a small town in the southwest portion of the state, Cascade Community Federal Credit Union ($273.6 million in assets and more than 15,000 members) has been helping members as much as possible with emergency financial assistance.
According to Lynn Calvert, CEO, “We realize this will not be everything our members need during these difficult times. We will be providing financial assistance in various forms tailored to their individual needs. This is the least Cascade can do to assist members while they get back on their feet.”
Calvert said the credit union was also able to deliver supplies directly to firefighters at the Glide Fire Department. She said, “Times like these are what credit union cooperatives come together for. We were created to assist our members and, we will come together to do that now.”
“There is no question that 2020 has been a tough year,” Adkins said. “Time after time, credit unions have stepped up to serve their members and communities through difficult circumstances. The NWCUF is honored to convene credit unions so we can join together to help where it is most needed.”
The NWCUF has a disaster relief application set up for credit unions and for individual credit union employees in need of assistance in the form of grants.