Maine’s credit unions are back with their 7th Annual $100,000 Ending Hunger Challenge this October, and they’re rolling out the welcome mat for anyone who wants to pitch in.
The goal? Raise enough cash to fund 200,000 healthy meals for Maine residents who need them most. And before you ask — nope, you don’t need to be a credit union member to donate. This one’s open to everyone: individuals, businesses, pretty much anyone with a heart and a few dollars to spare.
Why This Matters Right Now
“Maine credit unions always step up when our neighbors need help,” says Elise Baldacci, President of the Maine Credit Union League. She’s not kidding around. Just a few months back, these same credit unions dropped $100,000 on Good Shepherd Food Bank through their “48 to Feed the State” initiative. Now they’re asking the rest of us to join the party for round two.
“Demand for food assistance continues to grow and every donation our Campaign receives this month will help put food on the table for more people in need,” Baldacci adds.
The Numbers Tell a Tough Story
Let’s talk reality for a second. Food insecurity in Maine isn’t just a statistic — it’s a crisis hiding in plain sight:
- One in five Maine kids don’t know where their next meal is coming from
- Nearly 15% of households can’t consistently keep food on the table
- More than 31,000 seniors are at risk of going hungry
- Maine holds the dubious honor of having New England’s highest childhood food insecurity rate
And if you think those numbers are rough, consider this: Washington County clocks in at 18.8% food insecurity — the worst rate in all of New England. When you’re dealing with a rural state like Maine, getting food assistance to people who need it becomes exponentially harder. Distance matters when you’re hungry.
Where Your Money Actually Goes
Every dollar raised in October goes straight to hunger relief efforts across the state. Here’s the breakdown: 25% of online donations flow directly to Good Shepherd Food Bank, while the rest supports the boots-on-the-ground operations — local food pantries, meal programs, schools, and community organizations fighting hunger in their own backyards.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way Maine’s credit unions carry out our People Helping People philosophy through this Campaign,” Baldacci says. “They see the impact of hunger in their communities every day, and that makes this work personal. It’s why credit unions across Maine continue to give so generously to this cause, and why we hope others will feel compelled to join us.”
Translation? This isn’t some corporate feel-good initiative dreamed up in a boardroom. These folks live in the communities they’re trying to help. They see the need. And they’re doing something about it.