Feed ME 5K, Walk to End Hunger participants at the event. Funds raised will be used by local food banks and pantries to help community members who are struggling with food insecurity. Submitted photo

AUGUSTA — Maine State Credit Union recently announced that it donated over $250,000 to local animal shelters, food banks and community-based organizations in 2023. The money was raised through a combination of employee and member-based programs, including its new Drive for Good program and its annual Ending Hunger in Maine campaign.

“Maine State Credit Union has a long-standing tradition of supporting local organizations through its annual Ending Hunger in Maine campaign,” said Stephen Wallace, president and CEO of Maine State Credit Union said in a news release . He added that in 2023, the credit union introduced a new program called Drive for Good, in which it donates $25 to a local organization for every direct vehicle loan.

The annual Ending Hunger Campaign had a record-breaking year in 2023, raising over $105,000. The funds will be distributed to local food pantries and organizations that participate in the campaign at its annual Ending Hunger breakfast on Monday, at the Senator Inn in Augusta. The main fundraising event of the campaign is the Feed ME 5K, which is a walk along the rail trail in Augusta, held on the last Saturday of April. This event provides an opportunity for smaller hunger groups that lack the resources to run annual capital campaigns to seek donations for their organization. This year, the event will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 27.

Organizations that participate in the Feed ME 5K, Walk to End Hunger event receive funds based on the amount they raise. These funds are then used by local food banks and pantries to help community members who are struggling with food insecurity. The funds are used to provide local access to food, host meals and support local backpack programs as well as Meals-on-Wheels.

For more information, visit MaineStateCU.org.