The Credit Union Association of New York said more than $70,000has now been raised by the New York Credit Union Foundation'sdisaster relief fund to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.

That total includes $25,000 donated by the CUANY's affiliatecompanies – CUC Mortgage Corp., Covera and Universal SharingNetwork (UsNet) – and $10,000 from CUNA Mutual Group, the leaguesaid Tuesday.

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The CUANY also raised nearly $1,400 at a lunch fundraiser onFriday for its staff and Alloya Corporate FCU and CUNA Mutualrepresentatives. The CUANY and its staff have now donated nearly$6,000 to the fund, the league said.

The funds will be used to help New York credit unions and theiremployees, volunteer leaders and members who do not receivefinancial assistance from the CUAid, the National Credit UnionFoundation's relief fund.

“Helping comes naturally to credit union people. Thatinclination is even stronger when you know that an individual youhave served on a committee with, hiked the hill with or attended acredit union roundtable with is the one who needs your help,” saidVicki O'Neill, president/CEO of the $53 million ACMG FCU in Solvay,N.Y., and chairperson of the foundation's board oftrustees.

“Occasions like this present us with the opportunity to remindourselves of what it means to be part of a unique and meaningfulmovement,” O'Neill said.

Applications for assistance are being encouraged and areavailable online.