Credit Union Donates More Than 160,000 Water Bottles To Emergency Heat Relief Stations
During its annual Water Drive, TruWest® Credit Union collected more than 160,000 bottles of water in the month of May, a record-breaking amount for the Tempe-based financial institution. The credit union far exceeded last year’s total of 22,000. The total donation of 163,408 bottles is going to The Salvation Army to supply its Emergency Heat Relief Stations this summer throughout the metro Phoenix area.
“Staying hydrated during the summer months is a concern, especially for those who don’t have access to clean drinking water,” said Mike Waldron, Marketing Director at TruWest Credit Union. “Through recognizing this need, it has become a huge initiative for TruWest. As a community-focused organization, we are driven to encourage members, the public and our employees to step up and make a difference.”
A large part of the increase was from credit union employees who participated in a friendly competition between departments to surpass the goal. Along with bringing in cases of water, branch locations collected cash donations to purchase additional cases to contribute to the group’s total. At the conclusion of the drive, employees also braved the heat and participated in helping load the cases into the donation trucks.
“The Salvation Army in Arizona considers extreme heat a natural disaster situation. The human toll can be more devastating than during disasters like hurricanes, tornados and floods,” said Major David Yardley, The Salvation Army Metro Phoenix Program Coordinator. “That is why we are grateful for community partners like TruWest, which are taking on the challenge to gather water for the vulnerable population our heat relief stations serve.”
The Salvation Army strives to collect hundreds of thousands of bottles of water yearly to distribute at Emergency Heat Relief Stations. In response to an excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service, The Salvation Army activates multiple stations throughout the Valley to provide a space for cooling and hydration for anyone in need.
“Cultivating a culture of caring is at the heart of TruWest,” said Waldron. “Whether found in employee volunteer work, contributions for the community or efforts to ensure member satisfaction, helping others is our commitment as an organization. He hope we can make a significant impact again next year.”
