SAFE Federal Credit Union Raises $18,000 for Hurricane Relief Before Florence Arrives

Sumter, SC, September 15, 2018 --(PR.com)-- SAFE Federal Credit Union, headquartered in the heart of South Carolina, has raised more than $18,000 for disaster relief in just two days leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Florence in the region.

“We saw this as an opportunity to help our members preparing for the coming storm, while also providing financial support for those facing its aftermath in the weeks to come,” said Toby Hayes, SAFEs VP of marketing. “It has been a win-win that came together very quickly.”

On Monday, Hayes and his team were taking inventory of promotional items ahead of the hurricane when he realized they had close to 2,000 emergency lanterns that had been purchased for an event later in the month. Within hours they coordinated with other executives, designed and printed signs for all 17 branches, and arranged for morning delivery to all their locations to sell the lanterns to members to raise money for hurricane relief.

$10 each, SAFE thought they might be able to raise some funds for the Carolinas Credit Union League Foundation that helps credit union employees after a natural disaster.

“By Tuesday morning the social media posts and e-mail to members had people lined up at the doors,” said Hayes. “On the first day alone we sold more than 1,000 lanterns.”

SAFE was in a good position to help, along with the support of front line staff. Florence was predicted to move northward and directly impact North Carolina, but the storm track shifted Tuesday night.

“We woke up Wednesday and realized the storm was headed right for us,” said Hayes. “That made us realize that everything we’re doing to help was becoming very real. By the end of Wednesday we had raised more than $18,000 to help with hurricane relief, which could help our very own employees who were helping make all this happen.”

Regardless of what Florence brings to the Carolinas, SAFE Federal Credit Union will be donating all funds raised to the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, which provides grants to employees and volunteers of credit unions in North and South Carolina who are either displaced or encounter a hardship as the result of a natural disaster.

“We help employees get back on their feet so they can help their credit union members who are experiencing the same kind of hardships following a disaster such as Florence,” said Lauren Whaley, president of the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation. “The amazing support of SAFE and their members will go a long way to help everyone recover in the aftermath of this historic storm.”

About SAFE Federal Credit Union
SAFE Federal Credit Union, founded in 1955, is the largest credit union based in the Midlands, with $1 billion in total assets, 124,000 members, and 17 branches. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Sumter, Lee, Clarendon, Kershaw, and Florence counties, as well as parts of Richland, and Lexington counties. Membership is also open to employees of more than 500 companies located throughout the Midlands and relatives of those eligible to join. Connect with us at http://www.SAFEfed.org, on Facebook.com/SAFEfederalcreditunion or @SAFEFCU