Farms and credit unions are working to combat hunger in Maine
A Maine program that provides fresh produce to low-income seniors is seeking applications from farms interested in participating.
The call, issued by the state's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, is inviting more farms throughout the state to join the Maine Senior FarmShare Program. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service Program.
Following the community-supported agriculture model, a Senior FarmShare is an agreement between a participating farmer and a qualified senior for $50 of fresh produce.
Applications are due by Tuesday, May 31, and farms are encouraged to apply early.
More information and application forms are available online.
Maine credit unions raise $823K in 2019
In another food-security development, the Maine Credit Union League said it raised more than $832,000 in 2019 to combat hunger in Maine and provided funding to 303 nonprofit hunger-related organizations in the state.
"I am incredibly proud of our credit union network and their unwavering commitment to the Campaign for Ending Hunger,” Todd Mason, the trade group's president and CEO, said in a news release issued after an event in Freeport.
The recent gathering celebrated a successful year for the group's signature social responsibility initiative, the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger. The amount raised in 2019 was $832,332, exceeding the $792,000 raised in 2018.
“Every credit union in our state contributed to this initiative," Todd said. "They don’t do it because they have to — they do it because they want to ensure people in their communities have access to healthy, nutritious meals.”
Noting that $1 can provide four healthy meals to a person in in need, Tim Brooks, the Maine Credit Union League's vice president of corporate marketing and communications, said the campaign "will be able to feed even more Mainers in the weeks and months ahead.”
The campaign has raised more than $9.4 million since 1990. It provides support to organizations like Good Shepherd Food Bank, Full Plates Full Potential, schools food pantries and soup kitchens.
In addition to providing financial support, credit union employees volunteer their time and talent with those organizations, the league noted.
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