Helping our team — and community — rebuild

When our community was hit by an ice storm in January 2024, we saw downed power lines, property damage and impassable roads. In response, we jumped in to lend a hand to the organizations that were on the frontlines of recovery efforts. 

Here’s what we did for our community 

OCCU Foundation gave away more than $40,000 in the aftermath of the storm to help those affected. Of the total, $20,000 went to local food security nonprofits through the Feeding Families Fund. 

The organizations we helped were critical to keeping locals safe and healthy during one of the worst winter storms in recent memory. OCCU Foundation funds went straight to these nonprofit partners to keep them pushing forward with their crucial work. 

• Arc of Lane County’s emergency food boxes were valuable resources for families in Springfield and Thurston, where power outages led to loss of electricity and potable water for more than a week. 

• Community Food for Creswell’s Food Pantry spent four hours at the start of the ice storm moving frozen food into temporary storage at a local church. 

• Community Sharing, a nonprofit providing basic needs based in Cottage Grove, lost power and had to throw out all perishables. It took weeks for power to be restored. 

• FOOD for Lane County’s 20 rural food pantries supported many of those impacted by the ice storm. In addition, its mobile food pantry served affected households in Springfield and Cottage Grove. 

Here's what we did for our team

But we didn’t stop there. We also recognized that many of our own staff were struggling in the aftermath of the storm. To help alleviate some of the unexpected costs they incurred, like lost food or emergency supplies, OCCU team members could apply for either $100 or $200, based on their need. In total, 121 staff members received $20,900 in foundation funds to restock goods lost during the storm. 

Many team members, especially those in heavy-hit areas, told us that the assistance was critical. One staff member shared their story of being without power for nearly two weeks and living out of a cooler; to them, the funds were a “major relief.” 

Another called the cash help a “godsend”: they spent hundreds on gas and food to get through the storm. A third employee recalled losing $700 in food, saying that OCCU Foundation funds would be a big help when it came to bouncing back. 

Here's why we did it

OCCU Foundation, like OCCU, is committed to enriching lives in our service areas, and that can take on many forms, including emergency support in the wake of a natural disaster. 

While we’re always looking for ways to improve the wellness of our communities, OCCU Foundation is no stranger to helping our neighbors in times of crucial need. Following the devastating 2020 wildfire season, OCCU Foundation’s Fire Relief Fund donated more than $250,000 to nonprofit partners to provide critical services that aided in the recovery process across Oregon.   

What’s more, all that OCCU Foundation does is because of members like you! Learn more about what OCCU Foundation does and how you can be a part of making our community a better place to live below.

Find out more about OCCU Foundation

One OCCU team member’s neighborhood, encased in ice following the January 2024 ice storm.