MADAWASKA — On Tuesday, Jan. 12, a devastating 7.0 earthquake struck the island of Haiti.
The quake left much of the capital city of Port-Au-Prince in ruins and up to three million people are homeless, with thousands feared dead.
For anyone who has seen the pictures and heard news reports, it is clear that this is a disaster of tragic proportions. In an effort to provide assistance, NorState Federal Credit Union has joined with the Maine Credit Union League, in conjunction with the National Credit Union Foundation, and has activated its online disaster relief donation site at www.cuaid.coop/maine.
This site enables anyone to make a safe and secure online contribution that will go directly to helping the victims in Haiti, a country that has 175 credit unions and nearly 500,000 members.
Thanks to NFCU’s partnership with the National Credit Union Foundation, 100 percent of all contributions will be designated for this cause and will help the people of Haiti, credit unions, employees and their members immediately.
“We are calling this project, ‘Maine People Helping People Around The Earth — A Fund for Haiti Earthquake Victims.’ NorState Federal Credit Union has committed its staff, volunteers and membership to the cause and we invite everyone to make a donation of any size toward the credit union’s movement to assist those in need during these dire times,” said Denise Cote, marketing director. “NorState believes this is once again an opportunity for Maine’s credit unions to lead the way in helping thousands of people affected by a disaster.”
For individuals wishing to make a donation by mail, make checks or money orders payable to: National Credit Union Foundation — Haiti Relief. Mail donations to National Credit Union Foundation, Inc., ATTN: Haiti Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 78880, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0880.
Those who wish to make a donation online with a credit card can do so by visiting Credit Unions Helping Credit Unions During Disaster’s secure online site at www.CUAid.coop. For wire transfer information contact: Valerie Breunig, Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (608) 395-2055 or via e-mail at vbreunig@woccu.org. Please indicate that your donation is designated for the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund.
“NorState Federal Credit Union will also be accepting donations toward the worldwide relief effort at our six locations by selling Helping People Around The Earth paper markers,” said Cote.
Anyone wishing to make a donation at any NorState FCU branch office can do so in person in Madawaska, Fort Kent, Van Buren, Eagle Lake, Presque Isle and Ashland; or call NorState’s toll free number at 800-804-7555.
