AUGUSTA, Me. – Moved by the number of families that go to bed hungry each night, the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger Walking Tour hopes to raise awareness and stock shelves. Maine's credit unions have partnered with Cross Roads Ministries, a hunger agency here that serves thousands of people in eastern and central Maine, to start the walking tour. The walking tour kicked off on Nov.3, will encompass 400 miles and end on Nov. 25. At a Nov. 17 ceremony, Maine Gov. John Baldacci walked to the top step of the State House as a sign of support, applauding the credit union's efforts to end hunger here. "Hunger exists in Maine and is something that affects thousands of Maine people and their families," Baldacci said. "Credit unions are about helping their communities and this underscores that commitment. I am pleased to be a part of this extraordinary effort." The Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger has pledged to contribute more than $6,000 to the tour. Brenda Davis, Executive Director of Cross Roads Ministries of Old Town has walked more than 200 miles, visited 33 credit unions and 20 communities to pick up donations. Since the beginning of November, Davis has walked approximately 10 to 20 miles a day to bring awareness to the severity that hunger exists in Maine visiting food pantries, hunger organizations and credit unions in each town she visits. At each credit union, Brenda will also pick up a contribution from the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger as a way to support her cause. Launched in 1990, the campaign has raised more than $1.32 million to help end hunger here. -

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