The National Credit Union Federation of Korea (NACUFOK) made a sizeable donation of facemasks to World Council of Credit Unions for the second time in less than a year in an effort to help credit union systems still facing a critical need for more personal protective equipment (PPE) in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable and engagement arm of World Council, has in turn repackaged those masks and paid to distribute them to credit union systems in at least five countries through the second wave of its Project Storm Break PPE initiative.

20,000 of the masks will go to credit unions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a nation of islands in the Caribbean facing the impacts of both COVID-19 and an ongoing volcanic eruption. Credit union systems in Peru, Panama, Kenya and Barbados have also requested and will receive masks.

The distribution comes less than one year after NACUFOK and the Worldwide Foundation teamed up to deliver 40,000 masks to credit union employees and members in more than 30 countries during the first wave of Project Storm Break’s PPE initiative.

NACUFOK President and CEO Younsik Kim, who serves as Chair of the World Council COVID-19 Response Committee, once again led the effort to purchase the masks and get them to World Council for distribution.

“The Worldwide Foundation continues to leverage Project Storm Break, our disaster relief fund, to respond to credit union systems in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contributions by credit unions, individuals and system partners allow Project Storm Break to operate annually and provide this support,” said Mike Reuter, Executive Director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions.

Donations to replenish the Project Storm Break fund are appreciated and needed to sustain Worldwide Foundation's relief efforts. Visit Worldwide Foundation’s Project Storm Break page to make a generous contribution.