Maine credit union awards record-number of grants to fight hunger

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Town & Country Federal Credit Union kicked off its holiday giving initiative Friday with a focus on fighting hunger and food insecurity.

The credit union launched its third annual “12 Days of Local Giving” effort by packing more than 100 bags of food for local families. The credit union also presented $2,500 to The Locker Project, a nonprofit based in South Portland that gathers donated food and compiles it into packages for families, often by bringing the food to a school.

The $2,500 helps the Locker Project supply more than 500 additional bags of food for children and families across Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook.

That kickoff marks the start of a record year for Town & Country’s giving efforts. This year, the credit union is awarding $12,000 over the course of its “12 Days of Local Giving.”

Every weekday, from Dec. 4 to Dec. 19, TCFCU will award money to 12 local nonprofits, many of which provide direct hunger relief and essential needs and services.

“Holiday hunger is a reality for too many families this year, and the need in our community has grown significantly,” Jon Paradise, senior vice president of communications, marketing and community outreach at Town & Country, said. “That’s why our 12 Days of Giving is placing even greater emphasis on organizations tackling food insecurity. We’re proud to set a new record for contributions and to support nonprofits that ensure families don’t go without during the season of giving. ‘Local Helping Local’ is more than a tradition—it’s our mission.”

“So many families in our community are struggling to put nutritious food on the table. Community support for programs like ours is critical. The contribution from Town & Country comes at a time that is especially challenging for families and also challenging for us to keep up with the rising need,” Kathryn Sargent, executive director of the Locker Project, explained.

The effort comes during a time when the federal government is clawing back benefits that low-income families have relied on for decades to pay for food, such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. SNAP benefits were delayed in November during the government shutdown. The federal government pushed for those benefits to be completely withheld, but federal judges levied multiple decisions forcing the government to give the money out.

Currently, the federal government is targeting Democratic-led states, including Maine, with plans to withhold SNAP food aid from recipients in most of those states starting Dec. 8.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, December 2, that those states are refusing to provide data the department requested, such as the names and immigration status of aid recipients. She said the cooperation is needed to root out fraud in the program. Democratic-led states have sued to block the requirement, saying they verify eligibility for SNAP beneficiaries and that they never share large swaths of sensitive data on the program with the federal government.

The 12 non-profits that will receive grants are:

• The Locker Project, Cumberland County
• Southern Maine Agency on Aging – Meals on Wheels
• St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, Portland
• Saco Food Pantry, Saco
• The Root Cellar, Portland
• Wayside Food Program, Portland
• Youth Full Maine, York County
• Biddeford Food Pantry, Biddeford
• South Portland Food Cupboard, South Portland and other communities
• Project FEED, Portland
• Scarborough Food Pantry, Scarborough
• Preble Street Food Security Hub, Cumberland County