AUBURN – The Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger hosted an event called “Sharing The Bread” to celebrate National Hunger Awareness Day on June 7. At events in Auburn and Brewer, Maine’s credit unions contributed nearly $10,000 to 17 food pantries in Maine, one from each Maine county as well as to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank.

At the food bank headquarters in Auburn, representatives from the largest food pantry in each of Maine’s eight southern-most counties received a loaf of bread and a check for $500 (the other kind of bread) from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger.

At the Good Shepherd Distribution Center in Brewer, representatives from Maine’s eight northern-most counties received the same contribution. In addition, Maine’s credit unions made a $1,000 contribution to Maine’s largest food bank, the Good Shepherd Food-Bank.

Area food banks that received a donation were:

Androscoggin County: Good Shepherd Food Pantry, Lewiston.

Cumberland County: St. Joseph’s Pantry, Bridgton.

Franklin County: UMC/Wilton Area Food Pantry, Wilton.

Kennebec County: Augusta Food Bank.

Oxford County: Brownfield Food Pantry (SOCN), Brownfield.

Sagadahoc County: Bath Area Food Bank/Pantry.

Somerset County: Fairfield Interfaith Food Panty, Oakland.

“Through these events, we hope to further raise awareness and shine the spotlight on the problem of hunger in Maine. By including a food pantry from each of Maine’s 16 counties, we are also able to make a financial contribution that will have a positive impact in these pantries’ efforts to end hunger in Maine. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $1.75 million to help end hunger in Maine,” said Jon Paradise of the Maine Credit Union League.

Charles Large, executive director of the Good Shepherd Food-Bank, called the partnership with Maine’s credit unions “a true blessing for Maine’s hungry.” He added, “What Maine’s credit unions did today will enable these organizations to purchase nearly $100,000 worth of food and that will help feed a lot of people.”