AUGUSTA, Me. — Even as pre-Thanksgiving food pantry requests are soaring 25%-30%, Maine credit unions were hopeful Wednesday that their annual "Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger" can equal last year's fundraising total of $366,000, according to the Maine Credit Union League.
Considering the dismal economy, "It's hard to say whether we can reach that number but we still have many events between now and the end of the year," said Jon Paradise, governmental and public affairs manager for the league.
With its anti-hunger campaign now in its 19th year, Maine CUs have been among the most active in the nation in serving the needy conducting more than 100 CU-sponsored feed the hungry events ranging from barbecues and walkathons to car washes and candle giveaways. Many of the events have been held in conjunction with radio and TV stations and media outlets.
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A CU-sponsored "Ending Hunger Walking Tour" winds up its fourth week next Monday and has visited 47 communities with stops Tuesday in Brewer, Ellsworth, Hampden and Hermon. The final two stops are next Monday in Bangor and Orono. The walking tour has brought in $5,000.
"I'm really amazed that despite our economic problems, people are still so generous and now we expect to actually top our own fund-raising goal of $30,000 brought in from spaghetti dinners and other events which started in the summer," said Normand Dubreuil president/CEO of the $245 million Maine State CU, the state's largest.
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