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Synergent is committed to making a difference for credit unions, their members, and in our own local community. We accomplish this through the services and support we provide to our credit union partners. We also achieve this through our support of our signature social responsibility initiative, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger.
While we provide services to credit unions across the country, hunger remains a significant problem in our home state of Maine:
- Nearly 145,000 Mainers face hunger.
- Maine ranks 14th in the nation for very low food security rates, a more severe range of food insecurity that involves reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns. More than 25,000 Maine households fall into this concerning category.
- Of the nearly 250,000 children in Maine, an estimated 14.6 percent, or nearly 40,000 kids, are at risk of hunger. This means 1 in 7 kids do not have regular access to enough healthy food.
- Before the pandemic, households of color had a food insecurity rate that was twice as high as white households, and the food insecurity rate for Black households was three times as high when compared to white households.
- Every $2 donated through the Campaign helps provide a meal for a family of four. A gift of $42 can help provide meals for a family of four for a week.
Source: Good Shepherd Food Bank
“The holiday season can be an especially difficult time of year for many in our state in terms of finances,” said Cris Wescott, Interim President/CEO of the Maine Credit Union League and Synergent. “This is a time to help our neighbors and ensure they have meals on their tables.”
Holiday Meals for Mainers
With the holiday season fast approaching, Synergent is proud to again sponsor the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger’s Holiday Meals for Mainers. For the second year, this initiative encourages donors to make a donation of as little as $5 to get food on the tables of those in need. While this time of year is typically considered to be a festive one, it also can be a particularly stressful time for individuals and families who are food insecure.
“As little as $5 is all it takes,” added Wescott. “Compounded with the buying power of our partner, Good Shepherd Food Bank, every dollar donated through the campaign goes a long way in making a difference in supplying our local food pantries and meal programs.”
What is the Campaign for Ending Hunger?
All Maine credit unions participate in this signature social responsibility campaign that is the largest, non-hunger organization-based philanthropic fundraising effort to end hunger in Maine. Since 1990, the Campaign has raised over $12.3 million, including $1,000,434.19 raised in 2022 alone. Funding for the campaign comes from four sources:
- Credit Unions: Dollars raised by individual credit unions through fundraising activities such as payroll deduction, raffles, and events.
- Chapters: Dollars raised by chapters from golf outings, auctions, and other activities.
- Maine Credit Union League and Synergent: Dollars raised by the Maine Credit Union League and Synergent from the annual golf tournament, auctions, and other activities.
- Other: Dollars raised from corporations (both in and outside Maine), individuals, vendors, and others that share our commitment to ending hunger in our state.
Donate Today
Our Holiday Meals for Mainers initiative runs through December 26, 2023, but you can contribute to our Campaign all year long. We hope you will join us in making a difference and make a tax-deductible donation today. You do not need to be a member of a local credit union to support this worthy endeavor.
Donations can be made securely online and are tax deductible. If preferred, you can send a check to:
Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger
P.O. Box 1236
Portland, Maine 04104
