University Credit Union presents checks to UMA Campus Food Pantries

University Credit Union (UCU) presented checks to UMA totaling $1,710.00 for the student-run food pantries on UMA’s Augusta and Bangor campuses.

The Augusta Campus check of $1,010.00 was presented to UMA’s Student Government Association officers Salvatore Cardinale, Bethanie Lovely, and Cole Winslow for its student-run campus food pantry, the Community Cupboard. A check in the amount of $700.00 was presented to Lori Googins, UMA Coordinator of Student Life: Wellness & Cultural Enrichment and Alex Smith, UMA Pantry Student Worker for the student-run Bangor Campus Food for Thought pantry.

Through its Ending Hunger on Campus in Maine campaign, UCU raised $11,433.88 in donations for University of Maine System student-organized and campus-sanctioned food pantries. UCU matched this amount for a total donation of $22,867.76 to eight food pantries on campuses within the University of Maine System.

Pictured (left to right): Catherine Philbrick, UCU Bangor Branch Manager; Alissa Gervais, UMA Coordinator of Student Life: SGA, Activities & Leadership Development; Alex Smith, UMA Pantry Student Worker; Jared McKay, UCU Member Services Representative; and Lori Googins, UMA Coordinator of Student Life: Wellness & Cultural Enrichment.

Pictured (left to right): Salvatore Cardinale (Vice President) SGA, Bethanie Lovely (President) SGA, Rose Pelletier Coordinator of Student Life, Cole Winslow (Budget and Finance) SGA, Catherine Philbrick UCU, Michael Connors UCU.

This marked the third year of UCU’s Ending Hunger on Campus in Maine campaign “to bring attention to student food insecurity in Maine and to recognize student food pantries for tackling the problem head-on.” From November to December 2019, community members were encouraged to donate online through UCU’s website, or by stopping by or mailing a check to any UCU branch. Donors could choose to specify a campus food pantry and non-designated contributions were distributed among the eight pantries.

The donations from UCU will allow the Community Cupboard and the Food For Thought pantry to supplement their offerings. Current supplies are obtained through SGA funds allocated to the Community Cupboard and in-kind and monetary donations to the Food for Thought pantry.