The 25,000-square-foot headquarters of the $406 million SecurityCredit Union sits across the street from the Flint River and abouta half mile from the water treatment plant of the city of Flint,Mich. Over the last several months, this small, strugglingindustrial city has been the subject of national headlines due tohigh hazardous levels of lead in its water system.

While the Flint water crisis is a serious public health problem,particularly for children, Chad Merrihew, senior vice president andCOO for Security, said the national media coverage has beensomewhat sensationalized by some national media outlets.

Although the credit unions headquartered in the city of Flintand those cooperatives based just outside of Flint have not hadwater quality problems in their facilities, the cooperatives haveorganized efforts to help those that have been directly affected bythe water crisis. What's more, credit unions across Michigan andoutside the state have also chipped in to help.

“The latest statistics we have seen released from here in Flintis that 92% of the water tests completed in the city of Flintshowed no lead, which is contrary to what some media sources wouldlead people to believe,” Merrihew explained.

Since Security began testing its water, every result showed thatlead was not detected.

“I think it's an important story and there are definitely peoplein the city of Flint that are being impacted with having lead intheir water, but I also think the media tried to portray it as acitywide and countywide problem versus isolated instances and theproblem being in isolated areas,” he said.

Merrihew said people are wary about using the water. He alsonoted Flint businesses have posted signs that their water wastested and is safe to use. Some businesses are even posting theirwater test results to assure their customers.

As the need for bottled water, water filters and water testswill continue, six credit unions in the local area that serve thecity of Flint are donating $50,000 in gift cards to Flint cityresidents who are working with the state to monitor lead levels inthe water in their homes.

“As a credit union founded in Flint more than 60 years ago,Financial Plus Credit Union is deeply saddened by the Flint watercrisis and the impact it is having on children, families, theelderly and local businesses,” Olga Long, senior vice president ofthe $458 million Financial Plus Credit Union in Flint Township,Mich., said. “We understand the seriousness of the crisis andrealize the community will need support for many years to come. Weare committed to being a part of the support and to being on theFlint Chapter of Credit Union's Flint Water Crisis Task Force.”

Read more details in the April 20, 2016 print edition ofCredit Union Times about how credit unions are helping communitiesin Flint.