The Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger has made a$25,000 donation to the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn,Maine.

The funds will support the Good Shepherd Food Bank's BackPackand School Pantry Programs. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions'Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised $4.8 million, including arecord-setting $471,000 in 2012, the Maine Credit Union League saidthis week.

Volunteers from Maine's credit unions also participated in thefood banks first back-pack assembly session for the 2013-2014school year.

“Maine's credit unions are dedicated to people helping people ofall ages,” said John Murphy, president of the Maine Credit UnionLeague. “The problem of childhood hunger in our state is extreme.With one in four Maine children being food insecure, Maine ranksfirst in New England in terms of child food insecurity.”

Kristen Miale, president of The Good Shepherd Food Bank, saidthe contribution and multi-year commitment comes at a time when theneed is rising.

“This gives us an opportunity to make a significant impact muchsooner than we had anticipated,” she said. “The support ofMaine's credit unions is so important and this will make such adifference in the lives of Maine children not only with theirhunger but in their ability to learn because children who haveenough to eat tend to do better on their homework and in class.Because of this contribution and commitment, we are pleased todesignate Maine's credit unions as a childhood hunger hero to Mainechildren.”

The Good Shepherd Food Bank's BackPack Program provides childrenwho are suffering the effects of chronic hunger with nutritious,easy-to-prepare food to eat during weekends and school vacationswhen those crucial schoolmeals are unavailable. This school year, the Good ShepherdFood-Bank will be operating the BackPack Program in 20 schools infive counties, serving 800 children per week and providingapproximately 185,000 meals to children during this school year,the organization said.