“Maine People Helping Maine People”
Each year, nearly all of Maine’s credit unions–including OTIS Federal Credit Union–participate in the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger.
With the support of its members, OTIS raised a total of $19,196.48 for the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger over the course of the 2019 calendar year.
Among all participating credit unions, OTIS FCU placed 13th statewide for total funds raised, and 14th in per-member contributions. Because OTIS placed among the state’s top 25 credit unions in fundraising overall, the Maine Credit Union League contributed an additional $801.49 to OTIS FCU’s 2019 total. Consequently, the Credit Union will have $19,997.97 at its disposal in 2020 to distribute to community food banks of its choice within its field of membership.
Specific fundraising activities undertaken by the Credit Union throughout 2019 included selling Narrow Gauge movie passes; selling handmade pot and bowl holders; holding a car wash; hosting a Soup Day; hosting a Paint Night; and holding various raffles throughout the year. Additional funds to benefit Ending Hunger were raised via a $5 donation made from every $25 Skip-a-Payment application fee assessed on loans.
Participating Maine credit unions and credit union chapters, as well as the Maine Credit Union League/Synergent, collectively raised a record-breaking total of $832,332.62 for Ending Hunger in 2019, nearly $40,000 more than was raised in 2018. Since 1990, Maine’s credit unions, chapters, and Credit Union League have raised over $9.4 million for the Campaign, 100% of which has directly benefited hunger organizations in Maine.
Benjamin Roberts and Darice Dubreuil, Co-Chairs of OTIS FCU’s Ending Hunger Committee, are pictured with Retired Staff Sergeant Travis Mills (center), who was the Luncheon’s guest speaker. Mills is the author of “Tough as They Come,” and a founder of the Travis Mills Foundation, a non-profit organization formed to benefit and assist post-9/11 veterans who have been injured in service to our nation.
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.
