Walking Tour raises funds for hunger

OXFORD COUNTY — On November 20, the 11th Annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour made its way through Oxford County.

Brenda Davis, one of the state’s leading ending hunger advocates, has been partnering with Maine’s credit unions to coordinate the Ending Hunger Walking Tour for the past 11 years. Two credit unions have locations in Oxford County including Oxford FCU and Rainbow FCU.

The purpose of the Walk is to raise awareness and distribute some of the statewide funds raised by the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. In 2011, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger raised a record-setting $447,000 and has raised more than $4.3 million since 1990.

In Oxford County, the Tour made stops in Mexico, Norway and South Paris. Checks for $111 each (commemorative of this being the Tour’s 11th year), are being presented in each community.

Each check purchases approximately $1,500 in food through the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Food pantries in Oxford County receiving contributions are (alphabetical by community): GRAMPA Food Pantry in Mexico; Oxford Hills Food Pantry in Norway and Community Concepts in South Paris.

This year’s Tour will be visiting the most communities, and covering the most miles in its history. The Walk is expected to encompass more than 1,500 miles, with approximately 750 of that on foot, and visit a record-setting 77 communities from Kittery to Madawaska.

The Tour will visit every Maine county for the seventh consecutive year. In addition to contributing funds to Davis’ food pantry, which is one of the largest in Eastern Maine, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger will contribute to a food pantry in each of the 77 communities that the Tour visits.

The Walk will conclude with a ceremony at Changing Seasons FCU in Hampden on Friday, November 30.

Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $4.3 million to help end hunger in Maine. This is the 23rd year of the campaign. Contributions to the Campaign are tax-deductible and 100% of all funds raised go directly to the cause of ending hunger and stay in Maine. To make a contribution, stop by any local credit union.

Photo:

ENDING HUNGER — Staff from Oxford FCU, which has branches in Norway and Mexico, welcome Brenda Davis (front center in orange sweatshirt) and the Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour to Oxford County. Davis, one of the state’s leading end hunger advocates, is walking throughout the state during the month of November to raise awareness about the issue of hunger. In Oxford County, the Tour made stops in Norway, South Paris and Mexico, and made a contribution to a food pantry in each community.