SAN DIEGO — Thanks to the new online network activated lastAugust by the National Credit Union Foundation for disaster relief,CU donations and pledges have now soared past $144,000 to help CUmembers who suffered losses in the California wildfires duringOctober, NCUF officials reported today.

“Today NCUF received a $1,500 donation from the Florida CreditUnion Foundation as well as several more donations and so we'rehoping that by Thanksgiving, we hope the CUAid relief effort forthe California wildfires will reach $150,000,” forecast SteveBosack, deputy director of NCUF in Washington.

So far contributions and pledges have come from 27 states tohelp CU employees, volunteers and members who lost property in theCalifornia fires. Funds are routed through CUAid, which was startedas a vehicle to provide a centralized location for donations toensure contributions go directly to help impacted CUs.

Joining in the activation last October was the California CreditUnion League, which has helped coordinate funds to the needy. OneCU, First Future of San Diego, said at least 23 of its members losttheir homes with that number expected to increase as stafferscontinued matching their list of members to the government's listof lost homes.

Nationally, NCUF said 50 of the California contributions havebeen individual gifts made online through CUAid.coop with 49 asorganizational donations. Some donations have been handled via wiretransfer or check as well as online.