Maine Credit Unions Honor 12th Anniversary of 9/11 With Donation to Help Local Heroes Serve Maine’s Hungry When Crisis Strikes

People Remembering & Helping People’ was the theme for the Twelfth Anniversary 9/11 tribute by Maine’s credit unions to the five Red Cross Chapters of Maine. At the ceremony held at the 9/11 Memorial in Portland, Maine’s credit unions honored and remembered the victims of 9/11 and their families, and recognized the ongoing local efforts and emergencies facing Maine people everyday, especially when it comes to hunger.  This recognition included those who ‘respond’ to the hunger needs of thousands of Maine people throughout the year with a contribution by the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger to the Emergency Food Relief Fund of each Red Cross Chapter in Maine and a food pantry in each region.  The funds distributed were part of the record-setting $471,000 that was raised by the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger in 2012.

“For many people, not having enough to eat is a crisis they face everyday so we believe it is important to not only remember those victims of 9/11/01, but to also remember all of the first responders who help Maine people with relief efforts whenever tragedy strikes.  One important part of that process is making sure people who have suffered an emergency situation have enough to eat.  So, these funds will enable the Emergency Food Relief Funds of each Red Cross Chapter to continue to help when tragedy strikes, as well as food pantries who serve people in need in communities across Maine,” stated Jon Paradise, AVP of Governmental & Public Affairs for the Maine Credit Union League.

The five Red Cross Chapters in Maine each received contributions of $911.00 including: Southern Maine Chapter, which serves Cumberland York Counties; United Valley Chapter, Mid Coast Chapter, Pine Tree Chapter, and Pine Tree-Aroostook Chapter.

The five food pantries in Maine who received contributions of $500 each are the: Wayside Soup Kitchen of Portland, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Food Pantry of Brunswick, St. Mary’s Food Pantry of Lewiston, MANNA Food Pantry of Bangor, and Catholic Charities of Maine of Caribou.

The tribute included a moment of silence, and brief remarks from credit union and Red Cross representatives.

“The Maine credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’ goes hand in hand with the Red Cross mission of saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies,” explained Paradise.  “As we honor the twelfth anniversary of 9/11, it is important to remember both the tragedies that impact our entire nation, as well as those which occur in our communities each day, in what remains a challenging time for many.”

Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised $4.8 million to help end hunger in Maine.

About the Maine Credit Union League
Formed in 1938, the Maine Credit Union League is the State Trade Association for Maine’s 61 credit unions and 630,000 members, providing a variety of services and products to assist credit unions in meeting the needs of their membership.  For more information, visit www.mainecul.org.