Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger announced its month-long $100,000 Challenge raised over $200,000 to support Good Shepherd Food Bank’s COVID-19 response and community food pantries across the state.

Maine credit unions, employees, volunteers, members and vendors supported the campaign, which will provide much-needed funding to hunger relief organizations. These organizations have been facing an increased demand for assistance since the COVID-19 outbreak began.

Three-quarters of the funds raised online during the Challenge by Maine credit unions are going back to their communities in the form of financial support to local food pantries and meal sites. The remaining 25% of the funds raised will be added to Synergent’s $100,000 donation to the Challenge and directed to Good Shepherd Food Bank’s COVID-19 response.

“Maine’s charitable food network has never seen challenges like those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “Rising unemployment and poverty due to quarantine and stay-at-home orders are impacting people already at risk of hunger and could result in up to an additional 67,000 Mainers experiencing food insecurity, an increase of 39%. Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger makes a huge impact in our ability to serve our network of over 500 partner agencies throughout the state to ensure that nutritious food is appearing on Maine’s tables.”

Anyone interested in making an online donation to the Campaign, can continue to do so via the Campaign’s website. Online contributions made after July 4 will not be counted toward the Challenge.

“Even though our Challenge has ended, Maine credit unions’ efforts to raise money to fight hunger in our state will continue,” said Todd Mason, president/CEO of the Maine Credit Union League and Synergent. “Without question, the fundraising road ahead won’t be easy, but most things worth doing are difficult.  Hunger doesn’t take a vacation, and neither will we.”