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Barbecues, lazy days floating at one of Maine’s lakes, riding the waves at any one of the hundreds of beaches dotting the Maine coastline. That’s what people think of when they think of summer. And, while that is the reality for many, for nearly 200,000 Mainers who are hungry, summertime fun is anything but. Unfortunately, because summer is so short, contributions and volunteers at food pantries across the state fall significantly during the summer months.
As a result, the timing of a significant contribution from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger couldn’t have been better, both in terms of the monetary impact and in raising awareness about the issue of summertime hunger.
In late July, the Campaign held its annual ‘Share the Bread’ event, in which two food pantries from each Maine county received a contribution along with a loaf of bread. Additionally, Good Shepherd Food Bank received a contribution, too. Collectively, $21,000 in contributions were distributed, which will provide nearly 85,000 meals to hungry Mainers across the state.
Jon Paradise, Vice President of Public Affairs and Engagement for the Maine CU League, said the “contribution is part of the Campaign’s commitment to make a statewide impact. These funds are designated from the 2017 total to go towards statewide programs. Anytime we can make a contribution that impacts every Maine county is a good thing. The food pantries were very appreciative of the generosity of Maine’s credit unions.”
Since 1990, the Campaign has raised $8 million to help end hunger in Maine, including a record-setting $740,000 in 2017.