Wakulla Bank Launches “Red Wagon” Holiday Donation Drive for Big Bend Homeless Coalition

Branches Seeking Gift Certificates, Movies, Toys and Clothing for Local Families Experiencing Homelessness

Wakulla Bank is sponsoring its second annual holiday donation drive to collect entertainment gift certificates, family-friendly movies and games, warm clothing and hygiene items for Big Bend area children and families experiencing homelessness.  Donations will be accepted through Dec. 15.

Wakulla Bank is an American Bankers Association “Bank of Promise” in partnership with America ’s Promise, a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth.  The America ’s Promise campaign symbol is a red wagon; the donation drive features red wagons as drop-off points in the bank’s 15 branches in Calhoun, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties.  This year’s drive will be enhanced by a partnership with the Maclay Lower School, which also will be accepting items.

{sidebar id=1}“Last year’s donation drive was very successful and made the holiday season much brighter for many area families experiencing homelessness,”  said Wakulla Bank President and CEO Walter C. Dodson Jr.  “Our Bank of Promise commitment means that we seek opportunities to help build and strengthen the character and competence of youth.  We believe in the importance of families and want to do all that we can to help local families end their cycles of homelessness.”

Big Bend Homeless Coalition oversees more than 50 agencies and organizations that serve clients in an eight-county area, including three of the counties in which Wakulla Bank has branches.   The coalition’s 2005 street count and survey showed that children make up almost half of the area’s homeless population.  More than 4,000 individuals are estimated to experience homelessness in the Big Bend area each year.

“The holidays can be traumatic for children experiencing homelessness because their families often lack the resources to give even basic gifts or toys,” said Big Bend Homeless Coalition Executive Director Kay Freeman .  “The items we’re collecting can give our children a holiday season to cherish.”

Community members and bank customers are encouraged to participate in the donation drive.  Items needed include:

        Gift cards

­        Entertainment gift certificates and movies

­        New children’s tennis shoes

­        New children’s underwear

­        New sweatshirts and coats

­        Children’s gloves and hats

­        Family-friendly movies and games

­        Toys

­        Dishes

­        Silverware

­        Towels

­        Sheets

­        Blankets

­        Pots, pans and kitchen utility items

­        Watches

­        Aftershave/perfume

­        Personal hygiene items, hair care products

Founded by General Colin Powell, America 's Promise serves as a nationwide catalyst urging public, private and nonprofit organizations to focus their combined talents and resources to improve the lives of our nation's youth. The American Bankers Association has recruited more than 2,400 banks nationwide to join corporations, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic foundations, service providers, communities, and national, state and local governments in this national youth alliance.

For more information about America ’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth:  http://www.americaspromise.org/

Wakulla Bank is an FDIC insured independent bank dedicated to quality and innovative service, with 15 locations in Calhoun, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties.  The bank maintains more than $475 million in assets.  To learn more, visit www.wakullabank.com .

This article originally published on November 27, 2007.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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