Online Literary Auction planned to fight hunger

Islandport Press to coordinate week-long auction of books to raise money for food

Some of Maine's and the nation's top literary and artistic talent will join the fight against hunger in the Pine Tree State this holiday season as part of the inaugural Islandport Press Online Literary Auction to Fight Hunger.

Islandport Press, a Yarmouth-based book publisher, will use Facebook and other social media to auction signed copies of books by talented authors, illustrators, and photographers including Dahlov Ipcar, Richard Russo, Colin Woodard, Tess Gerritsen, Cathie Pelletier, Sarah Thomson, and many more. This year, all money raised via the week-long online auction will benefit the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger. Islandport's goal is to raise enough money during the week to buy $10,000 worth of food.

"Unfortunately, hunger is a sad reality in our wonderful state and a problem that is only increasing given the poor economy,"said Dean Lunt, publisher, Islandport Press. "Maine Credit Unions have done a tremendous job in helping both to raise money to buy food and to bring awareness to the very real, but sometimes hidden issue. We are honored to join with them and to do what we can this holiday season to buy food for those in need."

The auction will take place around-the-clock from Monday, Nov. 28, to Friday, Dec. 2, and will be conducted primarily via the Islandport Press Facebook page. Information on silent auction items will also be available at on the Islandport Web site's Online Auction to Fight Hunger page. Islandport editors will disseminate auction information via Twitter accounts and the company's e-newsletters. All books or sets of books will have a minimum bid of at least $15, which translates into about $225 worth of food. To ensure that 100 percent of the money raised benefits the anti-hunger campaign, Lunt & Lunt Lobster Company of Frenchboro has agreed to cover the cost of shipping books to winning bidders.

Jon Paradise of the Maine Credit Union League called the "event a 'novel' idea, no pun intended. We appreciate the support of Islandport Press and the participating authors in helping to raise additional funds for the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger. We are excited at having our Campaign selected as the recipient of this endeavor. This is another example of Maine people helping Maine people, which is what credit unions are all about."

Hunger in Maine is becoming an ever more critical issue. According to the Credit Union League, more than 40 percent of Maine kids under the age of 12 show some evidence of hunger, 19,375 Maine children are hungry, and an additional 64,087 children are at risk for hunger. In total, data shows that 12 percent of Maine households, representing 161,000 people, experience food insecurity. The Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger started in 1990 and since that time has raised nearly $4 million, with all of the money raised distributed to hunger organizations and food pantries throughout Maine. Each $1 donated will buy $14 to $16 worth of food.

Other authors and illustrators whose signed books will be part of the auction include: Paul Doiron, Gerry Boyle, John McDonald, Brian Vanden Brink, Charlotte Agell, Lily King, Kate Krukowski Gooding, Dana Moos, Ardeana Hamlin, Paul Fournier, Fred J. Field, Jessica Kinney, Astrid Sheckels, Jeannie Brett, Rebecca Rule, Glenna Johnson Smith, Kate Shaffer and Randy Spencer. Others may be announced prior to the auction. Special items to be auctioned include a complete signed set of 2011 Maine Literary Award winners donated by Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, a hand-crafted pillow with a scene from Dahlov Ipcar's "The Cat at Night" by Classic Rug Collection, and an original painting by Page O'Rourke.