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UCU team members organize a bottle drive to end hunger.
On Patriot’s Day, University CU (UCU) team members across Maine dedicated their time to give back to local communities with a credit union-wide day of service.
Driven by the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, more than 85 employees gathered in the morning in both Orono and Scarborough to meet with and draw inspiration from representatives of area nonprofit organizations, who shared about their organizations and ways the greater community can be impacted through volunteerism. From there, the UCU team stepped out into the community for the afternoon to volunteer in small groups at 15 locations throughout Maine.
The 2024 Here for U Day of Service arrived on the heels of UCU receiving national recognition for its 2023 Here for U Day of Service from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), now known as America’s Credit Unions. UCU received a CUNA Diamond Award for its kid and teen care bag project in April 2023, with 1,000 bags donated across Maine to support students entering the summer months. With this same excitement, UCU continues to develop the opportunities to make an impact on its day of service, with gratitude towards local organizations that host volunteers and share their stories.
“After last year, we knew it was going to be a special day to come together as a team to support our neighbors with our Here for U Day of Service,” said Renee Ouellette, President and CEO of UCU. “When a group comes together like this, great things can happen. The impact was significant for our team and communities. I’m proud of our team and their desire to help others through efforts like this day and their volunteer service throughout the year.”
For the 2024 Here for U Day of Service, UCU volunteers spent time at the following organizations:
- Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn and Hampden
- Ronald McDonald House in Bangor and Portland
- Habitat for Humanity Restore in Bangor
- Christine B. Foundation in Bangor
- YMCA Camps in Dedham, Hampden, and Freeport
- Cat Life Maine, in branch project from Bangor
- Caring Community Cupboard in Old Town
- Operation Gratitude at the Scarborough Operations Center
- Bangor Humane Society in Bangor
- Ending Hunger Bottle Drive at its headquarters in Orono and at its Operations Center in Scarborough
UCU volunteerism at the Ronald McDonald House.