Maine’s Credit Unions, Good Shepherd Mark Food Mobile’s Delivery Of Over 1 Million Pounds Of Food To Maine’s Hungry

Monday, October 5, 2009

Jon Paradise, representing Maine's credit unions, and Diane Dunton, chair of Good Shepherd Food Bank, stand in front of the Food Mobile with a check that the Maine CUs' Campaign for Ending Hunger presented to Good Shepherd.

On Monday, October 5, the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger, in partnership with Good Shepherd Food-Bank, celebrated the fourth anniversary of Maine's first and only "Food Mobile," with a contribution in the amount of $7,500 which is symbolic of the 7,500 lbs of food that the Food Mobile can carry each trip.  The occasion marked another milestone as it was announced that the Food Mobile has now distributed 1,129,540 lbs pounds of food to food pantries throughout Maine since its inception in 2005. 

The event also served as an opportunity to prepare for upcoming Ending Hunger initiatives, and to share ideas on how to raise even more funds in the year ahead. Ending Hunger Representatives received a tour of the food-bank, and were addressed by Diane Dunton, President/Chair of Good Shepherd's Board of Directors.

Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs Manager for the Maine Credit Union League, said that events such as this are evidence of the work being done to ensure that that the problem of hunger in Maine doesn't go unnoticed.  "The Food Mobile has proven to be an invaluable resource to Maine's food pantries, not only because high gas and oil prices, but throughout the winter months when the truck will be able to go to the more remote food pantries that may be unable to send someone to pick up food.  Now more than ever, it is a powerful tool in our efforts to end hunger in Maine," Paradise explained.  He added that food pantries in every Maine county are served by the Food Mobile each year.

Since 1990 the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $3.1 million to help end hunger in Maine.