PORTLAND – On Monday, June 11, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, which has raised more than $4.3 million since 1990 including a record-setting $447,000 in 2011, distributed $17,000 of those funds, one of the largest, single-day contributions to multiple hunger organizations ever in Maine, to 33 hunger organizations throughout the state.
Two food pantries serving Franklin County, Clearwater Ministries Food Pantry and the Wilton Area Food Pantry, were among the recipients. To bring awareness to the issue of hunger in Maine, and the acute need for food for Maine’s 80,000 school children during summer vacation, the annual ‘Share the Bread’ event was created by Maine’s credit unions to recognize the efforts of food pantries across the state and to provide significant financial assistance to food pantries in every Maine county. The event is one of many throughout the year that Maine’s credit unions coordinate to distribute the funds raised through the Campaign.
Representatives from two food pantries in each of Maine’s eight southern-most counties received two types of bread: the kind used for toast, and the kind used to buy food, with a check for $500 from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger in a ceremony at the Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s Portland Warehouse. A similar ceremony was held with representatives from food pantries in Maine’s eight northern-most counties in the afternoon at Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s Distribution Center in Brewer, where bread and checks were presented to 16 more food pantries. Good Shepherd Food-Bank also received a total of $1,000 during the day.
Luke Labbe, Chair of the Maine Credit Union League’s Social Responsibility Committee, which helps coordinate the Maine CUs’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, said that ‘Share the Bread’ was created not only to increase the amount of food available to Maine communities, but also to bring attention to an issue afflicting many Maine citizens. “Maine’s credit unions are about ‘people helping people’ and sharing the bread is an extension of this philosophy. In these difficult economic times, it is important for Maine people to know that hunger does exist in our state, in every county and every community,” he said. “As we recognize the significance of hunger in Maine and, most specifically, feeding a number of Maine’s children during summer vacation when there are not meals provided at school, Maine’s Credit Unions will provide resources to help organizations in each county make a positive impact on thousands of people in Maine.”
The following southern and central Maine food pantries received donations (pantries from Maine’s eight, northern-most counties participated in a separate event in Brewer):
Androscoggin
Trinity Jubilee Center – Lewiston
High Street Congregational Food Pantry – Auburn
Cumberland
South Portland Food Cupboard – South Portland
Falmouth Food Pantry – Falmouth
Franklin
UMC – Wilton Area Food Pantry – Wilton
Clearwater Ministries – Food Pantry – Industry
Kennebec
Augusta Food Bank – Augusta
Vassalboro Food Station Food Pantry – Vassalboro
Lincoln
Boothbay Regional Food Pantry- Boothbay
Waldoboro Food Pantry – Waldoboro
Oxford
Families in Crisis Outreach – South Paris
Dixfield Food Pantry – Dixfield
Sagadahoc
Bath Area Food Bank – Bath
Richmond Food Pantry – Richmond
York
Old Orchard Beach Food Pantry – Old Orchard
York County Food Rescue – Sanford
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised $4.3 million to help end hunger in Maine.
I’m puzzled. I bet there are a few hundred thousand people in Maine on EBT cards (food stamps). Has the government’s free money for food program failed ?
Unresolved “puzzement” only piles up if ya let it
Think of it as simply “complementing” an otherwise existing “assistance program”, it is tonnes easier on the psyche
The food pantries in our area help the “working poor”, some of our senior citizens on fixed incomes or those with disabilities. Not everyone is on food stamps (or wants to be), and even if they are, there may not be enough income in the house to meet their nutritional needs for the month due to other unexpected expenses. Food pantries are run almost entirely by volunteer help, and these volunteers are very dedicated. Many of them are retired citizens who put in countless hours each month in order to help those less fortunate in their community. There is very little room for any kind of fraud in this program. People are given 3 to 5 days’ worth of food per person in the household, depending on what is available at that time. Donations come in from community members, churches, and businesses. Some of our local stores donate breads and pastries that would otherwise be thrown out. In the summertime, many people grow extra vegetables and donate their surplus to the food pantries so that nothing is wasted, and those who are unable to garden can have some fresh vegetables. It is also an opportunity for those who receive to “give back” by volunteering their time and energy when needed for deliveries or distributions. If there were ever a disaster in our area, food pantries could become a center for distributing much needed help. In my opinion, food pantries are an example of neighbor helping neighbor, which is more of what we need rather than government programs.
Thank you Cindy, That explains a lot. I’m curious though. Are the people getting free food money from the state by EBT cards also allowed to get free food at the food pantries? If so that would be taking food from that which is needed for the the working poor.
It seems that the licensing and regulation of ”food pantries” could solve any number of concerns, real or imaginary, AND, provide for another revenue source for the “state”, as well as creating “jobs”
Cross referencing of data bases, drug testing et al; we just gotta know who is who and unworthy
………………the sheer audacity of a charitable and private organization giving away (free?) almost stale loafs of bread, a ½ tomato going bad unchecked, shameful I say!
To Bill: yes, you are allowed to obtain food from a food pantry even if you do get food stamps. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to stand in line at a food pantry and ask for food for your family, you would probably agree that people only do it because they need the help. It isn’t a perfect system, but those who run the food pantries are encouraged to err on the side of generosity and not to be judgmental. We’re not the food police.