Monday, November 28, 2011

No sleigh? Here are some ways to make holiday travels hassle-free!

If you haven’t already hit the holiday roads for Thanksgiving last week, there still may be some travels in your future. With the weather showing its milder side (for now anyway), now is the perfect time to prepare your vehicle for the road ahead. Maine’s Young & Free Spokester Seth Poplaski speaks from experience and shares his own road trip tips! Click here to view his video!

Speaking of travel, this week marks the conclusion of the Tenth Annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour. On Wednesday, November 30, the walk will come to an end with a special ceremony at Maine Savings FCU in Hampden. Brenda Davis, Executive Director of Cross Roads Ministries and Food Pantry, will complete her month-long journey to a record-setting 75 communities by receiving a special conclusion contribution from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. This year’s Tour visited the most communities, and covered the most miles in its history. The Walk encompassed a record of more than 1,500 miles, with approximately 700 of that on foot, and visited a record-setting 75 communities from Kittery to Madawaska.

Should you pass a credit union along your winter way, stop in to see how you can support their ending hunger efforts!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Don’t Just Talk Turkey, Give Thanks by Giving Back!


On Thursday, November 17, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, in partnership with Good Shepherd Food-Bank, celebrated the sixth anniversary of Maine’s first “Food Mobile” at the Good Shepherd Food-Bank’ Distribution Center in Brewer. Since its inception in 2005, the Food Mobile program has distributed 2,280,743 lbs of food throughout the state.

In addition to the ceremony, to coincide with Thanksgiving, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger provided funds to purchase 125 twelve-pound turkeys for food pantries across Maine to distribute to families in need.

This is one example of how at this time of year, giving back is the perfect way to give thanks for everything that makes you happy – and with so many volunteer opportunities to choose from, you’re sure to find one that will make you even happier. Check out http://www.volunteermaine.org/. There, you can search opportunities based your interest, whether you want to work in a thrift shop or food pantry, or spend time driving the elderly or reading to or tutoring children. There is even the opportunity to be a foster “parent” to a kitten!

Another great way to make a difference is to visit a local credit union, and see how they are working to end hunger in your community. From selling CDs and candles, to holding bake sales, there are many ways you can help your credit union give back.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Ultimate Way to Fight Fees? Experience the Credit Union Difference!


Here are some other ways that joining a financial institution that has fewer and lower fees has many other great benefits!

• Credit unions live their people-helping-people philosophy every day – from serving their community, to helping members through difficult times

• Credit unions make both becoming a member and being a member easy, with services such as switch kits to make joining easy, online banking to make conducting transactions easy, and staff that are always there to help to make your life easy!

• No matter where you live, you are eligible for membership in one or more Maine credit union

• Credit unions provide the same financial services as banks, including checking accounts, debit and credit cards, online banking and bill pay, IRAs, mortgages, car loans and more

• Thanks to Shared Branching and the SURF ATM Network, there are CU branches and ATMs wherever you go!

• These benefits are nothing new to credit unions - this is how they have always conducted business – and how they always will!

Make the switch today at a credit union near you!