HAMPDEN, Maine–As the holidays approach, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger joined with the Good Shepherd Food Bank to celebrate the 12th anniversary of Maine’s first Food Mobile.
To mark the occasion, the Maine campaign made a contribution of $12,500, a portion of the record-setting $675,000 raised during its most recent campaign.
According to the Maine league, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger’s contribution of $12,500 will provide more than 50,000 holiday meals to Maine families in addition to supporting the Food Mobile to ensure Maine’s most in need and underserved families will have continued access to food.
“When the first Food Mobile was introduced in Maine back in 2005, Maine’s credit unions were one of the original major partners. As the program has grown, so has our commitment,” said Jon Paradise, VP-public affairs and engagement for the MCUL. “Today, we celebrate that commitment by not only recognizing our long-term support of the Food Mobile program but by acknowledging more work needs to be done. Because the holidays are a time of giving and Maine’s credit unions’ philosophy of ‘people helping people’ remains a core value today, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger is pleased to present a check in the amount of $12,500 to Good Shepherd Food Bank to provide 50,000 meals to Mainers.”
The Food Mobile is specifically designed to transport food across great distances at safe temperatures delivering a mix of frozen, refrigerated, and dry grocery goods, the league explained. The mobile pantry visits communities whose demand for emergency and supplemental food has outgrown the capacity of local food pantries. In 2016, the Food Mobile hit the road nearly 134 times, delivered 600,000 pounds of food and covered every county in the state.
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $7.2 million to help end hunger in Maine.