Press Releases

Maine's credit unions
honor hunger pioneer's memory

AUBURN - On March 19, in a ceremony called "Renewing a Partnership; Remembering a Partner," Maine's credit unions honored the memory of JoAnn Pike, the founder of the Good Shepherd Food Bank, by making a donation of $10,500 to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Pike began the Good Shepherd nearly 28 years ago and served as its executive director until February of 2004 when she resigned. Three years ago this month, she passed away of cancer.

With this donation, Maine's credit unions have now contributed more than $50,000 in Pike's memory since she passed away on March 17, 2004.

Currently, Good Shepherd Food Bank, the largest food bank north of Boston, works with and provides food to more than 600 hunger agencies across the state from Kittery to Madawaska including the Augusta Food Bank, and everywhere in between. Good Shepherd has distribution centers in Auburn, which serves southern, central, western and midcoast Maine, and Brewer, which serves eastern and northern Maine.

"Maine's credit unions are proud to continue their partnership with the Good Shepherd Food Bank, an organization that began with the vision of JoAnn Pike, who was an extremely dedicated hunger pioneer," said Jon Paradise, Governmental & Public Affairs Manager of the Maine Credit Union League. "JoAnn's life of giving to others truly reflects the credit union philosophy of 'People Helping People.' "

Rick Small, executive director of the Good Shepherd Food Bank said, "We are extremely grateful to Maine's credit unions not only for their generous donation today, but for all that they do to help end hunger in Maine year after year."

Maine's credit unions recently announced that in 2006, the 17th year of the campaign, the group set a new campaign record of $315,419.26 for ending hunger. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $2.3 million to help end hunger in Maine.