WESTBROOK – The Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger celebrated National Hunger Awareness Day by presenting $17,000, one of the largest single-day contributions to multiple hunger organizations ever in Maine, to 33 hunger organizations throughout the state on June 5.

The third annual “Share the Bread” event was created by Maine’s credit unions to recognize the efforts of food pantries across the state and to bring awareness to the issue of hunger in Maine. According to statistics, approximately 12 percent of Maine’s population are food insecure, including one in four Maine children.

Representatives from two food pantries in each of Maine’s eight southern-most counties received a loaf of bread and a check for $500 from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger in a ceremony at the Maine CU League.

An afternoon presentation was held at Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s Distribution Center in Brewer, where representatives from Maine’s eight northern-most counties received bread and checks. The total amount highlighted the completion of the 17th year that Maine’s credit unions have worked to end hunger in Maine.

Local food banks that received checks were: Buckfield Food Pantry; Community Free Baptist Food Pantry, Sabattus; First Congregational-New Gloucester Food Pantry; United Methodist Good Fellowship Food Pantry, Naples; Tri-Town Food Cupboard, Livermore Falls.

Also, Phillips Shared Ministry Food Pantry; St. Andrew’s-Mt. Vernon Food Pantry; Woodstock Food Pantry, Bryant Pond; GRAMPA Food Pantry, Mexico; Shepherd of Faith Food Pantry, Richmond; Stauron Ministries Food pantry, Topsham; Starks Food Cupboard, Starks; Calvary Pentecostal Food Pantry, Madison.

Visit www.mainecul.org for more information.