"Maine People Helping Maine People"
Ending Hunger Co-Chairs Darice Dubreuil, Vice President; and Ryan Souther, Digital Branch and Facilities Manager
OTIS Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce that it raised a total of $10,850.40 for the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger over the course of the 2020 calendar year. After receiving an additional contribution of $487.77 from the Maine Credit Union League, the Credit Union will have $11,335.65 at its disposal to distribute to community hunger organizations of its choice within its field of membership.
One hundred percent of the funds raised by OTIS FCU for Ending Hunger stay local.
Fundraising totals were announced in February 2021 at the Ending Hunger Celebration Luncheon, which was held virtually. Representing OTIS FCU at the Luncheon were its Ending Hunger Committee Co-Chairs: Darice Dubreuil, Vice President; and Ryan Souther, Digital Branch and Facilities Manager. Of the Campaign, Dubreuil and Souther stated: “We know that 2020 was a trying year for everyone and that food pantries were called upon by higher amounts of community members needing assistance. We had to be more creative with our fundraising efforts for Ending Hunger due to our lobby being closed periodically and are very pleased with the results and our ability to help our communities.”
Throughout 2020, the Credit Union held various fundraisers for the Campaign, including a book sale, a Soup Day, a yard sale, a summertime to-go lunch, candy sales, a craft sale, and an October Cash Calendar raffle, among others.
Maine credit unions and credit union chapters from all over the state, as well as the Maine Credit Union League/Synergent, collectively raised a record-breaking total of $969,775 for Ending Hunger in 2020. Since 1990, Maine’s credit unions, chapters, and Credit Union League have raised over $10.4 million for the Campaign for Ending Hunger, 100% of which has directly benefited hunger organizations in Maine.
OTIS FCU also took part once again in the Annual Campaign for Ending Hunger Golf Tournament in October of 2020, both sponsoring a hole and sending a team to participate. The Tournament raised a total of $50,140 for the Campaign for Ending Hunger in Maine, and 100% these funds will be disbursed to various anti-hunger organizations throughout the state.
How the Ending Hunger Campaign Works
Participating credit unions raise funds for the Campaign at various times throughout the year. However, the primary period of fundraising is in the fall from September - December.
- All money raised is distributed to hunger organizations and food pantries throughout Maine.
- 100% of all of the money raised by credit unions stays in Maine and goes directly to the cause of ending hunger. All administrative costs are covered by the Maine CU League's Social Responsibility Committee.
- The month of November is designated as ending hunger month in Maine and Maine's credit unions are usually involved in a variety of food drives and fundraising activities for ending hunger.
To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Campaign, please visit OTIS FCU, or mail a contribution and make checks payable to:
Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger
ATTN: 2017 Campaign
PO Box 1236
Portland ME 04104
Statistics on Hunger in Maine
- More than 40% of Maine kids under the age of 12 show some evidence of hunger
- 68,950 Maine children are food insecure
- New data shows that 17% of Maine households, representing 200,000 people, experience food insecurity. Maine ranks 13th in the nation in food insecurity and first in New England. In addition, a new report from the Good Shepherd Food Bank found that nearly 40,000 people a week were being provided with food assistance from one of its 640 member agencies. This is double what was originally estimated.
- Hunger and the risk of hunger are widespread among Maine's low-income families with children
- The likelihood of experiencing hunger or the risk of hunger is directly related to income
- Children living in households which experienced hunger or the risk of hunger are more likely to experience health or school-related problems.
- Several groups are found to be at greater risk of hunger in Maine; children, adults in low income families, disabled persons, persons with special needs, the elderly, those living in rural regions and the inner cities of Maine's largest urban places.
- Several factors contribute to hunger in Maine; including income growth that is outpaced by cost of living; high level of underemployment; widening gap between rich and poor; illiteracy; and lack of consumer information on nutrition.
