Ramona Flint of Maine Highlands FCU receives a check from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger to distribute to hunger organizations from First Lady Karen Baldacci, who was at the ceremony announcing the results of the 2006 Campaign.

Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $2.3 million to help end hunger in Maine. This also marks the fourth consecutive year that the Campaign total has surpassed the $200,000 mark and the first time it has topped the $300,000 figure.

“I am honored to have the privilege of not only attending this year’s ceremony to announce the total raised by the 2006 Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. I am also grateful, on behalf of the people of Maine, of what credit unions are doing and have done to raise awareness and money to help provide food and resources to thousands of Maine people. Maine’s credit unions and their members do an extraordinary job and are really making a significant difference in nearly every community across Maine,” Mrs. Baldacci told the audience.

Jon Paradise of the Maine Credit Union League thanked Mrs. Baldacci for participating in this year’s ceremony and recognized the efforts of Maine’s credit unions in not just being located in the communities they serve but truly being a part of those communities. He added, “In addition to providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to hunger organizations, Maine’s credit unions are also the major sponsor of the state’s only Food Mobile, a partnership with The Good Shepherd Food Bank. In its first year, the Food Mobile delivered more than 330,000 pounds of food to food pantries throughout Maine.”

The January Thaw to End Hunger Celebration Event included the distribution of checks to representatives from credit unions from across the state. The checks, in turn, will be distributed by each credit union to their local area food pantries and hunger organizations. It is also important to note that that 100% of all money raised goes to ending hunger and stays in Maine.

In 2006, 96% of the state’s credit unions participated in the Campaign and all eight credit union chapters contributed funds.

Formed in 1938, the Maine Credit Union League is the State Trade Association for Maine’s 70-affiliated credit unions providing a variety of services and products to assist credit unions in meeting the needs of their membership. For more information, visit www.mainecul.org.