Surprise Food Chain Concludes the 12th Annual Maine Credit Union’s Ending Hunger Statewide Walking Tour

On Wednesday, December 4, the Twelfth Annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour came to its conclusion with a special ceremony at Bangor FCU. The Walk began in late October at Maine State CU in Augusta.  To celebrate her journey, Brenda Davis, Executive Director of Cross Roads Ministries and Food Pantry, was welcomed with a surprise “food chain” as she arrived at Bangor FCU.  Headed up by Young & Free Spokester, Lauren Reeves, the food chain consisted of area credit union representatives, who passed donated food down the “chain” to its destination at the credit union, and will now be distributed to those in need in the community by Cross Roads Ministries.

Additionally, Davis received a special conclusion contribution from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. Throughout the tour, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger contributed nearly $30,000 to help end hunger, distributing funds generated through the Campaigns 2012 fundraising efforts, which totaled a record-setting $471,000.  The contribution enabled food pantries to collectively purchase nearly $500,000 worth of food.

The Walk encompassed more than 1,500 miles, with approximately 650-750 miles of that on foot, and visited a record-setting 80 communities from Kittery to Madawaska, focusing attention on the severity that hunger exists in Maine, with 14% of Maine’s population identified as food insecure.  At each of the 88 credit union locations she visited, Davis picked up a contribution from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger to support her cause.  In addition, the Campaign made a contribution in each community Davis visited. The Tour visited every Maine county for the eighth consecutive year.

Maine’s Credit Unions raise funds for ending hunger throughout the year, and the Ending Hunger Walking Tour is part of the initiative to raise awareness for the cause and help food pantries across Maine. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $4.8 million to help end hunger in Maine.  The fundraising results for the 2013 Campaign will be announced in mid-February.