125 volunteers prepare food for Oklahoma tornado victims
LIVONIA, MI (June 20, 2013) The Metro West Chapter of Credit Unions raised nearly $13,700 during April and May for Forgotten Harvest, the country’s largest food rescue organization. Donations to help feed the hungry were made by employees and members of eight Metro West Chapter credit unions that are located throughout the Detroit area.
The credit unions (CU) that participated included Catholic Advantage Financial Federal CU, Communicating Arts CU, Community Financial CU, Co-op Services CU, Parkside CU, Public Services CU, Unified Communities Federal CU and Village Community CU.
In addition to the funds raised, 125 credit union employees, board directors and family members from the Metro West Chapter volunteered at Forgotten Harvest’s facility in Oak Park on Saturday, June 1.
The volunteers worked in two groups with one group sorting a large amount of donations Forgotten Harvest had received for the people in Oklahoma--to help facilitate distribution once the convoy reached its destination.
The second group repackaged "meat snacks" for local food pantries. The items were taken from 750 pound bins and repackaged into four pound bags that were appropriately labeled for distribution.
Volunteers were heartened to learn that the food they prepared that day would be shipped to people affected by the disastrous tornadoes in Oklahoma.
“Our Chapter’s fundraising and efforts at Forgotten Harvest are part of the credit union spirit and philosophy of ‘people helping people’,” said Hank Hubbard, CEO of Communicating Arts Credit Union who organized the volunteer event. “The time we spent at Forgotten Harvest and collecting funds brought us closer together and demonstrates how credit union members work together every day to make a difference to help others less fortunate in our communities.”
In addition to Forgotten Harvest, the Metro West Chapter hosts an annual golf outing to award grants to dozens of non-profit organizations located throughout metropolitan Detroit.
The mission of the Metro West Chapter of Credit Unions, affiliated with the Michigan Credit Union League, is to support the educational needs, community improvement and political advocacy for credit unions in the Metro West Chapter.