Ending hunger in Maine

Brenda Davis has raised $120,000 in seven years for ending hunger. In that time she has walked 3,750 miles and visited 74 credit unions across the state, including the Franklin Somerset Federal Credit Union in Kingfield. (David Hart photo) KINGFIELD — The Franklin Somerset Federal Credit Union, the Credit Union League and inspirational motivators like Walk for Hunger leader Brenda Davis are making a difference. They have combined to raise millions of dollars to bring hunger awareness to Maine communities.

In seven years, Davis has raised $120,000 for ending hunger, covered 3,750 miles, and visited 57 communities each year and 74 credit union locations across the state. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Union League has contributed over $3.1 million to end hunger in Maine.

Davis was back in Kingfield last Thursday for her second year, her eighth year conducting the fundraising walk. Her walk raises money for each of the local charities in which she participates. In this case $250 was earned for the United Methodist Economy Ministry in Salem.

Franklin Somerset Federal Credit Union representative Kaye Newell presents Ending Hunger Walk Tour volunteer Brenda Davis two generous checks that will support our local food bank. (David Hart photo) Davis, executive director of Cross Roads Food Pantry in Old Town, partners with the Maine Credit Union League. The League provides $100 for every branch she walks to and the local credit unions also contribute to her incredible effort.

She started this initiative on her own in Old Town. Just over eight years ago she offered a ride to a person carrying groceries along a country road. Their family was without a car and lived eight miles from a small “bread and milk store” and 20 miles from a supermarket. At that point she understood how transportation ties into hunger in particular in the rural areas of Maine.

“I hear saws when I’m now walking through Kingfield, which is a sign of growth. That means that there is growth and hope in this economy. The walk is all about hope,” David explained from inside the credit union.

“People who don’t have enough money to buy food need the hope that they can have food and they can get at it. It should not be something that is taken for granted. Being able to feed our families is something that should just happen and in Kingfield that does happen with the food pantry.”

Davis said it’s important to understand that food pantries are available to people who are working this year more than ever. People always think that food pantries are somewhere where you go when you’re down and out; you have nothing; when your cupboards are bare… “That isn’t the way it should be,” Davis explained. “Food pantries are your neighbors that live next door. We should threat them like they are the type of neighbor where you’d go for an extra potato when your one short or for a cup of milk until you get paid tomorrow.”

She said the food pantry needs to be considered part of the community. “If I have an extra potato, I may not know which neighbor needs it, but the food pantry should be the place to go for giving and receiving.”

It’s about community and about neighbors helping neighbors, she said.

“That’s why I walk for awareness so that I can make contributions to your food pantry. I am here today to support your local food pantry. I’m here to tell people that —don’t wait until you’re down and out to find a food pantry.”

People who have payments for vehicle loans and have to make choices between their payment and food can go to the food pantry and still make the payment. Food pantries are for all people in the community and if an area has one, they should be utilized just like we help and get help from our neighbors, she said.

People are forced to make choices today between food and other needs.

“We have to choose food. If you go eight, 10 or 12 hours without food, drinks and putting nutrients in our bodies, we get weak, headaches and nauseous. Your thought process slows down.” You are not at your best for your family, as an employee, as a member of a community.

Davis said to call your local food pantry to see what their needs are. Quite often financial contributions earmarked toward specific causes are better than the donations of food. A one dollar donation might mean five boxes of cereal with the purchasing options of some food banks. A $5 donation might feed a family for a week who are in desperate need, or 10 working families who just need a little boost before payday to put a smile on a face.

“For me it’s about being a Christian first and then it’s about being a ‘Maine’ah.’ Maine people have always been compassionate, we’re tough, we take care of our own… Maine people are very generous when they know what the need is, and once we do, we go out to fix it, Davis explained.

“Two years ago we may have been in middle class, now some of us are functioning in poverty. Unless you have the skills to live in poverty, it’s hard to survive there.”

Davis said you can give a little to go toward hunger, three dollars to go toward a gallon of heating fuel or a single canned good when you’re driving by.

“Whatever is in your heart that day will go to that cause. I’m sure that at the Economic Ministry, the need will be fulfilled by your dollar.”

With a hug goodbye, Davis set the pace walking southbound down Route 27 to Kingfield village, her second walk of that day. From there she was off to Farmington, Jay, Mexico and South Paris for a day in a life of bringing awareness to ending hunger in Maine.

She hopes that her efforts will be acknowledged and a little awareness is passed on to her fellow Mainers in the greater Kingfield community.