Synergent is committed to make 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, but we also accomplish 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:

• Maine ranks 1^st in New England in terms of childhood food insecurity
• Maine ranks 5^th in the nation for very low food security rates
• 20% of Maine children are food insecure
• 182,000 Mainers will experience hunger in 2021 compared to about 157,000 in 2019
• Before the pandemic, 12.3% of Mainers were food insecure
  • At the height of the pandemic, that number jumped to 14.7%
• Maine’s 2021 hunger rate is estimated to level off at 13.5%, which is still higher than the pre-pandemic food insecurity level
  Source: Good Shepherd Food Bank

“For individuals and families who are food insecure, this time of year can be particularly trying,” said Cheryl Lancaster, Executive Vice President of Member Services at Synergent and the Maine Credit Union League. “While our Campaign for Ending Hunger provides assistance to hunger-relief organizations across the state throughout the year, the work we do during the months of November and December to put food into the hands of those in need is especially meaningful.”

Holiday Meals for Mainers

With the holiday season fast approaching, Synergent supports a new initiative that has been launched as part of the Campaign for Ending Hunger. Holiday Meals for Mainers encourages donors to make a donation of as little as $5 to get food on the tables of those in need. With the pandemic lingering on and taking an economic toll on many, and with this time of year is typically considered to be a festive one, it can be a particularly stressful time for individuals and families who are food insecure.

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 $10.4 million, including a record-breaking $960,021.10 raised last year. 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; and
• 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

There is no better present to give than the gift of food to someone in need and, together, we can make this season brighter. Help us make a difference and make your donation today.

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