Community Credit Union has given Hope Haven Gospel Mission with a check for $600 to help feed the hungry. From left are Rebecca Branagan, Ending Hunger representative for Community Credit Union; Pastor Paul McLaughlin of Hope Haven Gospel Mission; and Jennifer Hogan, marketing/training coordinator for Community Credit Union.

Credit union helps mission feed flock

LEWISTON – Community Credit Union has presented Hope Haven Gospel Mission with a check in the amount of $600 to help feed the hungry.

“Every day of every year, we provide a safe place for LA’s homeless to eat a hot meal and spend the night,” said Pastor Paul McLaughlin of the Hope Haven Gospel Mission. “And right now, we are in the midst of trying to raise funds so we can help even more people.”

In 2007, the Hope Haven Gospel Mission served 15,389 meals and sheltered 361 people and 30 families.

As the need continues to grow, McLaughlin hopes they can continue to help everyone without having to turn people away.

So the mission is attempting to raise $4 million to increase the size of the facility and possibly open a second location in Auburn.

“Every year, we participate in the Maine Credit Union League initiative known as ‘Ending Hunger’,” said Rebecca Branagan, Ending Hunger representative for Community Credit Union. “We are excited to help with Hope Haven’s initiative to provide food and shelter to the homeless in Lewiston-Auburn.”

In 2007, the Ending Hunger campaign raised more than $366,000, all of which is distributed to hunger organizations in Maine. At the end of each year, a potion of the money raised by individual participating credit unions is given back to that credit union to be distributed to hunger organizations in their own community.

Hope Haven Gospel Mission serves the needs of the homeless, hungry and poor of central Maine.