AUBURN – In a ceremony called “Renewing a Partnership; Remembering a Partner,” Maine’s credit unions honored the memory of Good Shepherd Food-Bank founder, JoAnn Pike, by making a $10,500 donation to the food bank on March 19.

Pike began Good Shepherd nearly 28 years ago and served as executive director until February 2004 when she resigned. Three years ago this month, Pike died as the result of cancer. With the donation, Maine’s credit unions have contributed more than $50,000 in Pike’s memory.

Good Shepherd, the largest food bank north of Boston, works with and provides food to more than 600 hunger agencies across the state from Kittery to Madawaska. Good Shepherd has distribution centers in Auburn, which serves southern, central, western and midcoast Maine, and Brewer, which serves eastern and northern Maine.

“Maine’s credit unions are proud to continue their partnership with the Good Shepherd Food-Bank, an organization that began with the vision of JoAnn Pike, who was an extremely dedicated hunger pioneer,” said Jon Paradise, governmental and public affairs manager of the Maine Credit Union League. “JoAnn’s life of giving to others truly reflects the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People’.”

“JoAnn always had a smile on her face and I know this gift from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger certainly would have made her smile,” said Betty Ellis, a longtime friend of Pike and a board member at Good Shepherd.

Rick Small, food bank executive director, added, “We are extremely grateful to Maine’s credit unions not only for their generous donation today, but for all that they do to help end hunger in Maine year after year.”

Maine’s credit unions recently announced that in 2006, the 17th year of the campaign, they set a new record of $315,419.26 for ending hunger. Since 1990, the campaign has raised more than $2.3 million to help end hunger in Maine.

Formed in 1938, the Maine Credit Union League is the state trade association for Maine’s 69 affiliated credit unions. Visit www.mainecul.org for more information.