Rally Support for the Campaign for Ending Hunger This Giving Tuesday

November 7, 2023 |

Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity meant to encourage people to give back and get involved within their communities, is just around the corner, and your credit union can participate in the fun.

This year, as a component of the Holiday Meals for Mainers initiative, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger hopes you will help us provide meals to those in need as a result of our Giving Tuesday fundraising. In 24 hours, the Campaign wants to raise enough money to support our local food pantries and food banks so they can feed at least 1,000 people—an incredible amount during the cold weather of the charitable holiday season!

How Your Credit Union Can Engage

Your credit union can fundraise for the Campaign in your branches. You may also direct members to your credit union’s unique fundraising URL on the Campaign’s website to encourage online donations (email Lauren McCallum if you need your URL). If you coordinate an in-branch fundraiser, please submit fundraising totals to Lauren McCallum and Jen Burke by the end of the day on Monday, December 4 so the League can determine if we have met our goal!

If you do not wish to contribute dollars to this effort, there are plenty of other ways you can get involved:

  1. Share this effort on social media, in your newsletters, via email communications, and on your websites.
  2. Collect donations for the charitable cause of your choice.
  3. Pledge to match member donations on that day.
  4. Coordinate a canned food/nonperishable food drive to benefit a local hunger relief organization.
  5. Volunteer time with a local community organization (consider packing meals ahead of the holidays, spending time assisting at an animal shelter, serving meals at a soup kitchen, and more!).
  6. Solicit your members for participation in their charities and nonprofits of choice or encourage them to spread generosity.
  7. Perform random acts of kindness.
  8. Adopt a family for the holidays—either on your own or as a credit union.
  9. Invite staff to write letters to soldiers overseas during the holidays who are missing home a little extra, or send thank you cards to the incredible first responders who helped in Lewiston last month.
  10. Coordinate a cold weather clothing drive for hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, jackets, thick socks, etc., to help provide these items to those in need as the weather continues to chill.

Sample Social Media Copy

Facebook, LinkedIn, & Instagram:

Happy #GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity meant to encourage people to give back and get involved within their communities! Over the next 24 hours, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger is trying to raise enough funds to help local food pantries and food banks provide 1,000 meals. Fill the plate of someone in need today by donating at campaignforendinghunger.org. #HolidayMealsForMainers #EndingHunger

X (Formerly Twitter):

Happy #GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity to encourage people to give back within their communities! Today, the Campaign for Ending Hunger is trying to raise enough money to provide 1,000 meals for individuals in need. Donate today at campaignforendinghunger.org.

Click here to download graphics to accompany the social media messaging.

Did You Know?

  • Every $2 helps provide a meal for a family of four.
  • A gift of $42 can help provide meals for a family of four for a week.
  • $112 helps provide meals for a child all summer.
  • Nearly 145,000 of our neighbors around the state face hunger.
  • Of the nearly 250,000 children in Maine, an estimated 6 percent, or nearly 40,000 kids, are at risk of hunger. This means 1 in 7 kids do not have regular access to enough healthy food.
  • Maine ranks 14th in the nation for very low food security rates, a more severe range of food insecurity that involves reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns. More than 25,000 Maine households fall into this concerning category.
  • Before the pandemic, households of color had a food insecurity rate that was twice as high as White households, and the food insecurity rate for Black households was three times as high when compared to White households.

The work we do to support those in need is incredibly important. Join the League and help us give back this Giving Tuesday!