State’s Largest Food Drives Receive Big Deposits From Credit Unions

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Great rates weren't the only thing Maine credit unions were offering this November.  The state's three largest food drives all received a great boost from the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger.  Food drives in Portland, Augusta/Waterville and Bangor received more than $8,000 in financial contributions from the Campaign and, combined, the three drives raised tons and tons of food as well as financial contributions. 

"Part of our commitment to ending hunger in Maine is to be leaders in raising awareness and the food drives are all held in conjunction with radio stations so we are not only financial contributors to the organizations that these food drives are helping but also are proud to speak during the food drives on the air about the problem of hunger in Maine," explained Jon Paradise, spokesperson for the Maine Credit Union League.
In Portland, Maine's credit unions helped Big Hits Y-100.9 to 'Stuff A Bus,' right before Thanksgiving and collected more than 112,000 lbs of food in three days.  In Bangor, the credit unions helped KISS 94.5's Mike & Mike with their Annual Food Drive with a large cash contribution that helped the drive reach new goals.  Finally, in Augusta, Maine's credit unions teamed up with B-98.5 to support that station's Annual Tanksgiving Food Drive that filled a tank at the Augusta Airport.
According to pricing supplied by Good Shepherd Food Bank, the total impact of the $8,000 contributions to the food drives is approximately $90,000 in food because of the purchasing power of food pantries.