“People Remembering and Helping People” was the theme for the eighth annual 9/11 tribute by Maine’s credit unions to the five Red Cross Chapters of Maine. At the ceremony, Maine’s credit unions honored and remembered the victims of 9/11 and their families.
Also receiving recognition were organizations that work each day to protect the health and safety of Maine people, as checks in the amount of $911 were presented to the Emergency Food Relief Fund of each Red Cross Chapter.
Five Maine Red Cross Chapters in Maine — the Southern Maine, United Valley, Mid Coast, Pine Tree, and Pine Tree-Aroostook Chapters — received donations through the tribute.
In addition, as part of the continued effort of Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, a $500 donation was made to a food pantry located in each chapter. Since 2001, through the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, Maine’s credit unions have contributed over $52,055 to the Emergency Food Relief Funds of Maine’s Red Cross Chapters in memory of 9/11.
The five food pantries in Maine who received donations are the: Wayside Soup Kitchen of Portland, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Food Pantry of Brunswick, SeniorsPlus Meals on Wheels of Lewiston, Eastern Area Agency on Aging of Bangor, and Catholic Charities of Maine of Caribou.
The tribute included brief remarks from credit union and Red Cross representatives, and monetary contributions totaling $7,055.
“The Maine credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’ goes hand in hand with the Red Cross mission of saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies,” explained Jon Paradise, governmental and public affairs manager for the Maine Credit Union League. “As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, it is important to remember both the tragedies and emergencies that impacted our entire nation, as well as those which occur in our communities. Hunger is an emergency that is faced in every Maine community, every day.”
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $3.5 million to help end hunger in Maine.
