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From left to right: Jen Burke, League Assistant Vice President of Outreach and Communications and League Interim President Cris Wescott.
At an event held on February 13 in Freeport, representatives from credit unions across Maine gathered to commemorate the work done collaboratively last year to end hunger in Maine. At a ceremony hosted by the League, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger announced it raised $1,221,868.94 in food and cash donations in 2023—marking a new fundraising milestone for the Campaign and exceeding its annual fundraising goal by over $200,000.
“It was an incredible moment to share our collective accomplishments with our credit unions and announce our fundraising results for 2023,” shared Cris Wescott, Interim President at the Maine Credit Union League. “Credit unions work tirelessly year-round to support the Campaign and get food into the hands of those who need it, and those efforts made a meaningful difference. The Campaign supported 280 organizations and generated critical awareness about hunger in our communities. I can think of no better example of how credit unions carry out our shared People Helping People philosophy than through this initiative.”
Dollars raised by the Campaign stay in Maine and support organizations such as food banks, pantries, healthcare programs, schools, colleges, and meal sites.
“I look forward to the day when we don’t need to raise funds to end hunger because everyone will have access to the food they need to thrive,” shared Robert Caverly, Vice President of Advocacy & Outreach at the Maine Credit Union League. “But, until that time comes, Mainers can continue to depend on the support of the state’s credit union network to do its part to feed our neighbors. I am so proud of what was accomplished last year and am looking forward to supporting the Campaign in what I hope will be another record-breaking fundraising year in 2024.”
The event also included remarks from Dr. Amy Buczkowski and Dr. Jennifer Jewell, physicians at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) in Portland, who spoke about the work being done at the hospital to address food insecurity. The Campaign for Ending Hunger presented the BBCH with a check for $20,000 at the event on behalf of all Maine credit unions to assist with their ongoing efforts to feed food insecure patients and their families.
“I had the privilege of joining several credit unions at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital earlier this year to hear about the great work they are doing,” added Wescott. “Food truly is medicine and the program they have built is vitally important. We were honored to surprise them with a donation at our event to help ensure their efforts continue.”
Since the Campaign’s inception in 1990, it has raised over $13.5 million to combat hunger in Maine.