GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has sent $500 to each of 192 credit union and credit union league staff in Louisiana whose homes were damaged and whose lives were disrupted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "Credit unions across the Carolinas have worked hard to raise funds to provide hurricane relief to the Gulf," said CCUF Executive Director Steve Elam. Elam said that for many Carolina credit unions, "Hurricanes are fresh in our memories, and we know firsthand how devastating they can be. We hope that in some way our gifts help the folks in Louisiana recover." CCUF provided the funds through its Disaster Relief Fund, which was activated shortly after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in late August. The fund is designed to provide disaster assistance to credit unions and credit union people. Credit unions raise money and send contributions into the fund. Credit unions in both North and South Carolina contributed to make the donations possible, the CCUF said. Elam said that in discussing how relief funding could be most helpful with LCUL President Anne Cochran, "We both agreed with so many people homeless and displaced by the storms, that money would have the greatest impact. A lot of credit union staffers are helping others get back on their feet … now, it's their turn to receive some help." In addition to the cash gifts, CCUF funds are underwriting the costs of a mobile branch in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The mobile branch is being used by the Jackson County Employees Federal Credit Union, which was completely destroyed by Katrina. Carolinas Telco Federal Credit Union in Charlotte loaned the mobile branch to the credit union in September.