PORTLAND — “People Remembering and Helping People” was the theme for the 10th Anniversary 9/11 Tribute by Maine’s credit unions to the five Red Cross Chapters of Maine. At a recent ceremony, Maine’s credit unions honored and remembered the victims of 9/11 and their families. Also receiving recognition were the organizations that work each day to protect the health and safety of Maine people, as checks were also presented to the Emergency Food Relief Fund of each Red Cross chapter.
Contributed photo
Mike Sirota, left, of the American Red Cross, Pine Tree Chapter’s Aroostook branch, accepts a $1,911 donation from Jon Paradise of the Maine Credit Union League. Maine’s Credit Unions presented contributions to all five of Maine’s Red Cross chapters’ emergency food relief funds in honor of 9/11, as well as a food pantry located within each region including Catholic Charities in Caribou.
In addition, as part of the continued effort of Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, a 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 $64,110 to the Emergency Food Relief Funds of Maine’s Red Cross chapters in memory of 9/11.
The five Red Cross chapters in Maine receiving the donations included: Southern Maine Chapter, United Valley Chapter, Mid Coast Chapter, Pine Tree Chapter, and Pine Tree-Aroostook Chapter.
The five food pantries in Maine that received donations included the Wayside Soup Kitchen of Portland; Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Food Pantry Brunswick; St. Mary’s Food Pantry, Lewiston; MANNA Food Pantry, Bangor; and Catholic Charities of Maine in Caribou.
The tribute included brief remarks from credit union and Red Cross representatives and monetary contributions totaling $12,055.
“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 we honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11, it is important to remember both the tragedies that impact our entire nation, as well as those which occur in our communities each day, in what remains a challenging time for many,” he added.
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $3.9 million to help end hunger in Maine.
