BANGOR – Gov. John Baldacci and U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud joined Maine’s credit unions at a special event to welcome the state’s first-ever Food Mobile to eastern Maine.

Through a partnership with the Good Shepherd Food Bank, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger is the major sponsor of the vehicle, which can deliver 7,000 pounds of food to food pantries in one visit.

At the Nov. 22 ceremony at Sam’s Club in Bangor, both officials had high praise for Maine’s credit unions and their leadership role in helping end hunger in Maine.

“The weather is turning more wintry, but thanks to the efforts of Maine’s credit unions and the Good Shepherd Food Bank, the Food Mobile will help spread sunshine to thousands of Maine people and their families,” Baldacci said.

Michaud said, “The resolve of Maine’s credit unions to do something about ending hunger in Maine exemplifies the credit union spirit and makes me proud to be a lifelong credit union member.”

The event was designed to coincide with Thanksgiving and because many people are without food in Maine during this holiday.

Maine Credit Union League’s Jon Paradise said, “For many food pantries in Maine, just getting to a facility can be challenging and, with the high cost of fuel, quite expensive. Maine’s credit unions are proud to partner with the Good Shepherd Food Bank in making the Food Mobile a reality. The Food Mobile will visit food pantries in every Maine county on a regular basis and reduce the number of trips that food pantries will have to make to purchase food to provide to those in need.”

To date, the Food Mobile has delivered more than 14,000 pounds of food to food pantries in several Maine counties. The Food Mobile’s Bangor visit was one of several events involving Maine’s credit unions during November, which was Ending Hunger Month.

Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $1.75 million to help end hunger in Maine. One hundred percent of all funds raised stays in Maine and goes directly to the cause.