Giving Bank
by Sarah on December 22nd, 2009
Have you seen a version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol yet this year? Have you ever noticed how shockingly relevant the Victorian themes of materialism and the plight of the underprivileged are to today’s society? These are forces that impact ShoreBank’s communities every day. Yet, in the words of Dickens, “I have always thought of [the holiday season]. . . as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.” Here are just a few ways our ShoreBank teams are giving back to our communities this holiday season:
ShoreBank Retail Branches
Our retail branches just completed a 2 week “Head to Toes for Kids” clothing drive. They collected gently used hats, scarves, gloves, and new underwear and socks, for children aged toddler through sixth grade who need them.
ShoreBank Customer Service
Our customer service team works with our ShoreBank customers and prospects every day and really understands that times are tough. Instead of engaging in their annual Secret Santa gift exchange, our customer service team pooled their Secret Santa funds to collect and to donate $300 to REST. REST provides shelter and social service programs to tens of thousands of homeless people in Chicago. That donation really is customer service!
ShoreBank Fellows
Our Princeton Fellows are applying their education to not only ShoreBank but also to mentor 4th graders every week as WITS Chicago volunteers. WITS (Working in the Schools) is an organization that provides individual tutoring to Chicago youth to promote literacy and a love of reading.
ShoreBank Nonprofits & Foundations Team
Our Nonprofits & Foundations Team is giving back while giving to various Nonprofits. This year they are giving customers coffee bags from Aspire CoffeeWorks. Aspire CoffeeWorks offers craft-roasted coffees while providing job opportunities to people with developmental disabilities. But there is always more giving to be done when nonprofits are concerned. This team also collected and is donating over 5 boxes of books to a nonprofit to help promote and inspire literacy among children and adults.
As we enter the end of 2009 may you too be inspired to give as you able, for it is our generosity that can often help counter the neglect of the underprivileged in communities everywhere.
Happy Giving and Happier Holidays from everyone at ShoreBank!
