RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Altura Credit Union has donated $50,000 to the National Credit Union Foundation's National Disaster Relief Fund to help credit unions and their members along the U.S. Gulf Coast who are survivors of Hurricane Katrina. "The pictures of devastation throughout Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi have been heartbreaking," said Altura President/CEO Mark Hawkins. "Hundreds of thousands of people have been left with little more than the clothes on their backs. We hope our contribution can assist credit unions and their members in getting back on their feet and starting the work of rebuilding their lives." The NCUF National Disaster Relief Fund provides a conduit for contributions from the credit union system to support credit union disaster relief and rebuilding. Donations will be used to provide emergency relief such as housing, food and transportation for displaced credit union employees, volunteers and members. Altura has requested that its donation be earmarked to assist credit union members who have been evacuated from New Orleans. In addition, the Riverside County Chapter of the American Red Cross has opened an account at the credit union. "We hope this makes it easier for local individuals to make donations to the Red Cross for hurricane relief," Hawkins said. With blood supplies chronically low, Altura is also planning a blood drive on Friday, Sept. 16.