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With Thanksgiving only six days away, the Campaign for Ending Hunger Holiday Meals for Mainers initiative is officially underway. The effort encourages people to make a $5 donation to the Campaign to help provide the gift of a holiday meal this season to someone in need. In addition to raising funds—money credit unions can use to contribute to local food pantries—the initiative raises critical awareness about hunger and the difficult choices individuals and families face due to limited resources.
If you are looking for reasons to support Holiday Meals for Mainers, or other fundraising activities the Campaign coordinates throughout the year, consider these facts from Feeding America:
- More than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure.
- The pandemic has increased food insecurity among families with children and communities of color, who already faced hunger at much higher rates before the pandemic.
- Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger. But rural communities are especially hard hit by hunger.
- Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and visit their local food banks and other food programs for extra support.
- Millions of people in America are just one job loss, missed paycheck, or medical emergency away from hunger.
The League has created a variety of resources to help credit unions promote Holiday Meals for Mainers over the next few weeks. Visit our website to download social media graphics, sample messaging guides, posters, and more. In addition, the League has secured a number of earned media hits, including broadcast coverage on WABI 5 (Bangor) to help garner attention for this effort.
Maine credit unions work year-round to uplift the lives of their members and communities, but efforts like these during this time of year, are especially meaningful.