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Left to right: Jasmine Merrill, Loan Processor at OTIS FCU; Andrew Hutchins, Director of Food Services for RSU 9: and Sarah Hayes, Director of Marketing and Communications at OTIS FCU
OTIS FCU delivered checks to six area school districts to help pay down student lunch debt. Funds were raised by members over the holidays through OTIS’ angel tree initiative. RSU 73 received a $1,651.10 donation, RSU 78 received a $313.50 donation, and RSU 9 received $307.05 donation.
“In total, we are able to completely pay off the meals balance for nine families and help an additional eleven families get closer to taking care of their balances,” said Andrew Hutchins, Director of Food Services for RSU 9. “Unfortunately for some children, the meal that they have at school is the only decent one they have during the day. With the rise in the minimum wage and the extremely low unemployment that we’re experiencing, over one hundred students district-wide no longer qualify for free or reduced-price meals. This places a burden on many families who are not used to budgeting for school meals and a tremendous burden on the district in trying to collect unpaid balances.”
In addition, representatives from RSU 38, MSAD 52, and MSAD 58 each received a $100 donation from the credit union.
“This fundraising effort was a true testament to the communities we live in,” said Kim Turner, President/CEO of OTIS FCU. “We are very fortunate to live and work in an area where there is so much care and concern for the wellbeing of each other, and in this case, the students within the six school districts in our field of membership. Food insecurity is real, and it gives us peace of mind knowing that students that may not have had lunch will now have it because of the generosity of the people within our local communities.”