FLINT, Michigan — Flint area credit unions are donating $50,000 in gift cards to community members who are currently working with the state to monitor lead levels in the water in their homes.
According to the Michigan league, these community members live in sentinel sites, locations throughout Flint designated for testing by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency in cooperation with residents. Water collected from these sites will be continually tested in order to gather data to measure the safety of the water and determine when it is suitable for consumption.
The following credit unions based in Flint and the surrounding communities are involved in the gift card distribution. All associated activation fees have also been covered.
- Dort Federal Credit Union
- ELGA Credit Union
- Financial Plus Federal Credit Union
- Flint Area School Employees Credit Union
- SAGElink Credit Union
- Security Credit Union
“All of us greatly appreciate the generosity of the credit unions in providing this thank you to residents working with us to ensure Flint's water delivery system is safe once again,” said Gov. Rick Snyder in a statement.
“Credit unions are known for embedding themselves in their communities during both good times and tough times,” ELGA Credit Union CEO Karen Church said. “This is one small way credit unions serving the Flint community can contribute to its recovery, while demonstrating how local credit unions are here to stay.”
The DEQ will distribute the gift cards at the end of the home water testing period in mid-April.
Data collection at about 600 sites will wrap up in mid-April.