Giving notebook: Credit unions step up to fight hunger
Courtesy / Town & Country FCU
Megan Walton, left, CEO of Southern Maine Agency on Aging, and Linda Halleran, Town & Country FCU's community engagement manager display a check that will help provide more than 500 meals to homebound older Mainers in Cumberland and York counties through the Meals on Wheels program.
Maine credit unions are stepping up on several fronts to fight hunger across the state.
Thursday marked the kick-off of the fourth-annual statewide $100,000 Ending Hunger Challenge. The goal is to raise that amount in 30 days for Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger
Separately, Town & Country Federal Credit Union marked May's designation as Older Americans Month with a $3,500 donation to home-delivered meals for older residents of southern Maine.
Proceeds from the month-long Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger will support Good Shepherd Food Bank, local community food pantries and meal sites.
Besides raising money, campaign organizers aim to motivate others to work with Maine’s credit union network to address systematic barriers that prevent many Mainers from accessing healthy food.
“As part of our longstanding commitment to reduce hunger and promote financial well-being for all Mainers, we are bringing back our $100,000 Challenge in time for National Hunger Awareness Month,” said Todd Mason, president and CEO of the Maine Credit Union League.
Noting that fundraising is only part of the long-term solution, he added that “ongoing work with our Ending Hunger by 2030 partners is critical for creating opportunities in local communities that help Mainers achieve financial stability, which will help end the cycle of hunger.”
As part of the campaign challenge, financial institutions, businesses and individuals are encouraged to donate here, with 25% of funds received going directly to Good Shepherd Food Bank. Some credit unions are also accepting donations at their branches.
All donations to Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger $100,000 Challenge are tax deductible. Both business and individual contributors will be listed on the Campaign’s website (by permission), and membership in a Maine credit union is not a requirement.
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $12.3 million, including over $1,000,000 in food and cash contributions in 2022.
Town & Country supports Meals on Wheels
In a related move, Town & Country's $3,500 gift to the Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program will be used to provide more than 500 meals to older adults in Cumberland and York counties.
“With more attention focused on ‘National Older Americans Month’ at the beginning of May, we wanted to mark the conclusion of the month by making a contribution that can make a positive impact moving forward after the designation has passed,” said Jon Paradise, senior vice president at Town & Country. “Food insecurity is a significant issue among far too many Mainers and our seniors are among the most vulnerable.”
Megan Walton, CEO of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, called Meals on Wheels the first line of defense against hunger for many homebound adults.
“In order to respond to this need and operate our program without a waitlist, we are relying on increased philanthropic support of our individual donors, corporations, and foundations,” she said. “We are grateful for the support of Town & Country.”
The Scarborough-based credit union, ranked No. 4 among Maine-based credit unions by assets in the 2023 Mainebiz Book of Lists, serves 40,000 members.
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