April 13, 2006

COMPTON, Calif. (April 13, 2006) Recognizing the need for continued assistance, Mid-Cities Schools Credit Union recently sent 200 pairs of new “Shoes for School” to Louisiana school children affected by Hurricane Katrina.

“Because we serve the educational community, it’s important that we help these children continue their education by meeting a tangible need,” said Charlotte Johnson, MCSCU President & CEO.  Johnson, like many Americans, was horrified by the storm devastation she saw on TV. Wondering where displaced children would attend school and how they would acquire basic necessities like shoes, she came up with an idea for “Shoes for School Kids.”

“I wanted to provide new shoes,” she said, “rather than second-hand donations.” MCSCU’s Board of Directors voted to support the project. In addition to the Credit Union’s own donations, MCSCU also gathered donations from employees and vendors, using these combined funds to purchase school shoes and t-shirts. The shoes were purchased locally from Payless Shoes in Compton, California, which provided a generous discount.

MCSCU then teamed up with the Louisiana Credit Union League (LCUL) to assist with the project.  The League consulted with St. Bernard Parish School Board Employees Federal Credit Union to determine where the donation was needed most. “St. Bernard Parish is a suburb of New Orleans that was hit hard. Some places had as much as 12 feet of flood water,” said Alicia Blanda, Director of Communications for the LCUL. The St. Bernard Parish has managed to reopen one unified school, located at Chalmette High School, which accommodates about 1,600 elementary, middle and high school students. Teachers and administrators at the school determined which children were most in need of the gift bags.

“We want people to see that a small credit union in Compton, California can make a positive difference in the lives of these deserving children,” said CEO Charlotte Johnson.

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