Credit Union campaign nets $17K

    WESTBROOK – On June 9, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger presented $17,000, one of the largest, single-day contributions to multiple hunger organizations ever in Maine, to 33 hunger organizations throughout the state, including two in Aroostook County.
DONATION — From left, Michele Creder of the Good Shepherd Food Bank looks on as Ted Ivey of the Town of Ludlow Food Pantry in Ludlow receives a check (and a loaf of bread) from Jon Paradise of the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger.
    To bring awareness to the issue of hunger in Maine and the acute need for food for Maine’s 65,000 school children during summer vacation, the fourth annual ‘Share the Bread’ event was created by Maine’s credit unions to recognize the efforts of food pantries across the state and to provide significant financial assistance to food pantries in every Maine county.
     In Aroostook County, the Town of Ludlow Food Pantry in Ludlow and the Aroostook Band of Mic Macs Food Pantry in Presque Isle both received contributions.
     Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs Manager for the Maine Credit Union League, said that ‘Share the Bread’ was created not only to increase the amount of food available to Maine communities, but also to bring attention to an issue afflicting many Maine citizens.  
    “Maine’s credit unions are about ‘people helping people’ and sharing the bread is an extension of this philosophy.  In these difficult economic times, it is important for Maine people to know that hunger does exist in our state, in every county and every community,” he said.  “As we recognize the significance of hunger in Maine and, most specifically, feeding a number of Maine’s children during summer vacation when there are not meals provided at school, Maine’s Credit Unions will provide resources to help organizations in each county make a positive impact on thousands of people in Maine.”