Editor's Note: The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has been receiving cards, letters and emails of thanks from people impacted by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Click here to read some of these expressions of gratitude for the support of credit unions in North and South Carolina.

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation emptied its Disaster Relief Fund just in time for the holidays. CCUF sent $165 checks to 188 credit union people rendered homeless by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The donations come in the wake of $500 checks sent to the same people in late October.

In all, CCUF has donated more than $127,000 to credit union people affected by the two storms. "There's a lot of ways to pitch in and help," remarked CCUF Executive Director Steve Elam, "but we felt that money sent directly to people who needed it would have the greatest impact."

The funds came from the combined efforts of credit unions in both North and South Carolina. "We've been getting cards, letters and emails from the people getting these checks," said Elam. "They are so grateful to our credit unions for their generosity."

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.

For more information on the programs of the CCUF, please go to www.carolinasfoundation.org.