File photo / Jim Neuger
Todd Mason, president and CEO of the Maine Credit Union League, in the organization's Westbrook headquarters.
Updated: September 2, 2020
Maine Credit Union Notebook: 'Dogust' days, fight against hunger, Westbrook branch move
Courtesy / Town & Country FCU
Venus, a hound mix, was among the lucky pooches adopted during the dog days of "Dogust," an initiative last month by Town & Country Federal Credit Union and the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.
A year after launching an innovative loan product for pet owners, Town & Country Federal Credit Union paired up with the Animal Welfare League of Greater Portland last month for a "Dogust" initiative promoting pet adoptions.
The South Portland-based credit union serves 40,000 members who live, work, go to school or worship in Cumberland and York Counties. It has $450 million in assets and is part of the second-largest branch network in the country.
Each Friday during the month of August, the organizations highlighted on social media a different dog up for adoption, and the credit union made a weekly contribution in honor of each week’s dog.
The partnership resulted in each featured pooch being adopted the same day, and Town & Country made a $1,000 contribution for the month to the Animal Welfare League.
“From contributions to events, COVID has brought about a number of challenges" for the animal services organization, Town & Country President and CEO David Libby said in a news release.
"Designating the month of August as 'Dogust' was a fun way to bring attention to [the nonprofit] and support the canine friends being cared for there. It also marked a great way to celebrate the first anniversary of our new pet loan, the first of its kind in Maine,” he added.
The initiative also offered the credit union the chance to spread the word about its pet loan and how it can help cover expenses associated with caring for pets, which average between $800 and $1,500 annually.
“Our pet loan has made difference in helping relieve the financial burden for our members in covering vet visits and some surgeries for their pets," said Town & Country spokesman Jon Paradise. "We’ve heard some heartwarming stories on the financial assistance our Pet Loan has provided to help members care for their pets."
Teaming up to fight hunger
After raising $230,000 to fight hunger in Maine during the pandemic, the Maine Credit Union League said it will donate a further $48,688 to the Good Shepherd Food Bank to support the Auburn nonprofit's COVID-19 response.
Money for the donation was raised in June as part of the Campaign for Ending Hunger $100,000 Challenge, a month-long initiative kicked off with a pledge from Synergent, the Credit Union League's service subsidiary, with a goal of raising a further $100,000 by July 4.
As part of the Challenge, 75% of the funds raised online by Maine credit unions are going back to local communities in the form of financial support to food pantries and meal sites. The funds raised were combined with Synergent's $100,000 donation, bringing the total amount raised to $230,000.
“As part of the Challenge, the Campaign presented Good Shepherd Food Bank with a check for $100,000 earlier this summer,” said Todd Mason, president and CEO of the Westbrook-based Maine Credit Union League, in a news release.
“Now that the final fundraising results are in, we can send another donation their way to support their ongoing efforts to keep Mainers fed during this pandemic," he added.
Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank and a 2020 Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year, said, “We are inspired by actions Maine credit unions and their members took to ensure community needs were met across the state.”
New Westbrook branch for Cumberland County FCU
Cumberland County Federal Credit Union, a 20,000-member institution with an operations center in Falmouth and branches in Portland, Westbrook, Gray, Windham and Yarmouth, has moved its Westbrook branch to 150 Main St., formerly a Tim Hortons coffee shop, from the Westsbrook Vocational School location.
Courtesy / Cumberland County FCU
Cumberland County Federal Credit Union's new branch in Westbrook was formerly a Tim Hortons.
The new branch location, inaugurated with a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this week, has two drive-through lanes and a drive-up ATM.
“This branch strengthens our presence in Westbrook and provides additional convenience to our existing members as well as new ones in the community. We are growing and remain focused on providing our members with tremendous value, through exceptional products and services that help people save money and live better.” said Scott Harriman, the credit union's
president and CEO, in a news release.
Beth Boudreau, a 30-year banking industry veteran, has joined Cumberland County FCU as the branch service manager for the new location.
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