$5,000 pledged to help credit unions respond to storm’s devastating impact

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) this week pledged $5,000 through its Project Storm Break initiative to assist the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions’ (CCCU) Development Foundation’s appeal to provide support to credit union communities affected by Hurricane Beryl. 

The first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl rapidly intensified from a tropical depression to a Hurricane within a 24-hour span, further strengthening in early July into an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm. CCCU member credit unions on Tobago, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Jamaica suffered significant destruction.

Among Jamaica’s population of approximately 2.8 million, roughly one million people are credit union members. Credit union membership in St. Vincent and the Grenadines represents 78% of the country's population. Consequently, a significant portion of those directly impacted by the disaster are credit union members. 

CCCU has already disbursed the first tranche of funds from its Development Foundation to help severely impacted member organizations with the purchase of medical supplies, food, bottled water and rain tarps. 

The next urgent need will be to purchase power generators once more become available on some of the devastated islands. WFCU will support this effort through its $5,000 donation and encourages the global credit union community to step in and make their contribution to help bridge the safety gap through Project Storm Break.  

“Our General Disaster Relief Fund gives WFCU an opportunity to quickly respond to various crises faced by credit unions around the world. We are grateful to our generous champions that provide us with the resources needed to fulfil this important mission to be there for those in need in a timely fashion,” said Mike Reuter, WFCU President.