Gift card program helps Kentucky flood victims
League, credit unions rally to aid impacted members, communities.
Kentucky Credit Union League President/CEO Debbie Painter.
Severe flooding has impacted eastern Kentucky since late July. The damage hit home for the Kentucky Credit Union League (KCUL), as credit union members and communities were impacted directly by the flooding, which destroyed homes and killed at least 39 people, according to Governor Andy Beshear.
“The situation in eastern Kentucky is dire,” KCUL President Debbie Painter says. “There are people living in tents or on their porches because their homes were destroyed or are uninhabitable until massive cleanup is done.”
Two KCUL credit unions are located in the flooded areas. One escaped with no damage, while the other had six feet of standing water, damaging all physical documents. Members of both credit unions were impacted, however, and the league wanted help those communities.
Recalling the generosity that Kentuckians exhibited in the wake of the severe tornadoes that hit Kentucky in late 2021, league staff decided to collect gift cards for families impacted by the flooding. The idea came about days before the league’s annual meeting, which was held from Aug. 8-10 in Louisville. The league contacted all credit union CEOs, convention attendees, and exhibitors.
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