The association actively supports and encourages credit unions in their community outreach efforts. In support of those efforts, the association maintains a committee on social responsibility. The purpose of that committee is to develop a unified plan of social responsibility for the association through recommendations to the board of directors. That plan features programs and events that focus statewide efforts on affordable housing, financial literacy and designated charitable and community activities that enhance the positive image of credit unions as well as the public's overall awareness of them.to capture the essence of the goodwill and outreach that massachusetts credit unions have been engaged in over the years, the association in 2006 launched the credit union community hope initiative.