WESTBROOK – The Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger recently recognized the top 25 fundraising credit unions from the 2006 campaign at a ceremony in Augusta.

The campaign reported that 96 percent of Maine credit unions participated in the recent campaign. The top three credit unions were formally recognized at the recent ceremony coordinated by the Maine Credit Union League.

Local credit unions in the top 25 included Otis FCU in Jay, Central Maine FCU in Lewiston, Rainbow FCU in Lewiston, Sabattus Regional CU in Sabattus and Monmouth FCU.

The collective fundraising success of Maine’s credit unions through the 2006 Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger resulted in more than $315,000 raised through the campaign, with more than $250,000 of that total returned directly to credit unions to distribute to hunger organizations in their own communities.

The remaining funds are contributed to statewide hunger initiatives, such as funding the state’s only Food Mobile, a partnership with Good Shepherd Food Bank that delivers food to pantries in every Maine County. More than 300 of Maine’s 550 hunger organizations have or will receive funds from Maine’s credit unions from the 2006 campaign. With all administrative costs or expenses covered, 100 percent of the funds raised stay in Maine and go directly to helping to end hunger.