PORTLAND, OR (October 28, 2015) — With Portland rental housing prices increasing at over 6 times the rate of fixed income raises, a downtown Portland credit union stepped up to help a local organization in its mission to provide solutions for the city’s homeless and housing-challenged population.
Staff and family members from USAgencies Credit Union spent Saturday, October 17 sorting donated clothing and organizing winter shelter supplies at JOIN, a Southeast Portland-based non-profit that serves the city’s homeless population. While JOIN works to find permanent housing for the homeless, it also provides critical short term services such as showers, mail pick-up, blankets, socks and other cold weather gear. JOIN serves an average of 200 people each week.
“We’re lucky to have USAgencies as a partner in the fight to end homelessness,” said Sydney Linden, JOIN Development Manager.
“Unfortunately, the economy hasn’t recovered in Portland like it has some areas of the country,” Linden continued, noting that many families could be just one unforeseen expense away from homelessness.
USAgencies CU’s day of “giving back” coincided with International Credit Union Day.
In addition to contributing a day of labor to JOIN, USAgencies CU in partnership with Enterprise Car Sales, collected cash and warm socks during a six-week long campaign.
“In the credit union community, we live the people helping people philosophy. It was rewarding, on International Credit Union Day to help JOIN prepare for the coming winter by collecting goods that they need and helping them to organize their resources,” said Jim Lumpkin, President and CEO of USAgencies CU.
USAgencies’ team event won the Northwest Credit Union Association’s ICU Day of Service contest, resulting in $2,500 of free services from the Strategic Link consultant of their choice. The credit union used its award to facilitate a strategic planning session with S.L. Dahlstrom Consulting.
Sorting clothes area before
Sorting clothes area after with volunteers Callie Gibbs, Sarah Buck and Victoria
Jim and Kasey building shelves
Callie Gibbs, Sarah Buck, Kathy Scholes, Jim Lumpkin, Kasey Rockwell, Tyler Rockwell, Paul Rama, Kathy Rama, Victoria Scholes
The Northwest Credit Union Association is the trade association representing more than 175 not-for- profit, cooperative credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and their 8.1 million consumer members. As not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions look out for their members’ financial well-being. Everyone should open their eyes to a credit union. For more information, please visit: https://yourmoneyfurther.com
Lynn Heider
503.329.7208 | lheider@nwcua.org
Jenny Miller
jmiller@nwcua.org
208.713.9596 (Mobile)
