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The League is making a $20,000 donation to Full Plates Full Potential’s 2020 Summer Meals Emergency Fund. The fund provides summer food service programs with financial support to offset the costs of offering meals to children in their community. Because of the rising demand for food assistance, Full Plates Full Potential estimates it will need to raise $250,000 to support meal program grants this summer.
“Summer meals matter for Maine’s children, now more than ever,” said Justin Alfond, Full Plates Full Potential’s Board Treasurer and Secretary. “The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the urgency and need for summer meals as more families are experiencing economic hardship and more children are experiencing hunger.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Full Plates Full Potential has been helping school districts across Maine pay for the increased cost of providing and transporting meals to children. To support this effort, Full Plates has been raising money for its COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Thanks to the generosity of local donors—including the League—Full Plates responded to 419 requests for funding from 126 programs, providing $375,750 in local assistance to help 59,000 students access breakfast and lunch each day.
“We are proud to partner with Full Plates Full Potential to ensure Maine children have access to healthy meals this summer,” said Cheryl Lancaster, League Executive Vice President for Member Services. “Summer meal programs always are a lifeline for many families, but with COVID-19, the demand for food assistance is even higher!”
Full Plates Full Potential has already begun awarding grants ranging from $500 – $8,000 to summer food service programs. If your credit union is interested in making a donation to Full Plates Full Potential using your credit union’s remaining Ending Hunger funds, please complete a Fund Request Form and email it to endinghunger@mainecul.org. You can download this form from the League’s website.
“A credit union donation would provide critical support to summer meal programs in local communities and statewide to help get children the basic nutrition they rely on to grow and thrive,” said Alfond.