Eleven non-profit organizations in Mendocino and Lake Counties have received a portion of the $11,193 contributed by Savings Bank employees and the Bank during the 2017 Casual for a Cause — Denim Days year-long fundraising campaign. Due to the ongoing success, this effort will continue in 2018.
“Over the past six years, this effort has made a great impact in our communities with donations totaling $77,651,” said Katie Kight, Savings Bank Director of Marketing and Community Outreach. “We’re investing in our local youth, senior citizens, those in need, the arts, education, public safety and economic development to strengthen the quality of life in our communities.”
The idea of ‘Casual For A Cause — Denim Days’ began in January 2012 with a group of Savings Bank employees who wanted an additional way to make a difference in our communities during difficult economic times. Every Friday and Saturday, employees have the opportunity to dress casual by wearing denim jeans to work while supporting a variety of local non-profit organizations through voluntary donations. Each month employees at a designated branch or department select the organization of their choice which will benefit by the monthly contributions.
In 2017 the following organizations received funds from this program: Community Cares Snack Pack Club, Potter Valley Youth & Community Center, Lakeport Senior Center Meals on Wheels, Tapestry Family Services, Hopland Volunteer Fire Department, Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County, Manzanita Services Inc., Navarro by the Sea Center for Riparian and Estuarine Research, Laytonville Healthy Start Center, NCO’s Caring Kitchen Project, and Fort Bragg Volunteer Fire Department.
“It is people like you who open their hearts and their wallets that make our grass roots Community Cares Program happen,” said Janet Carlson of the Community Cares —Snack Pack Program. “On behalf of the entire committee I want to thank you for your generous donation that will help feed children this winter. What an extraordinary gift. It is people like you who make our community such a great place to live, and work. Together we really can make a difference.”
“Thank you so much for your support to our agency during Denim Days! Your generous donation will be used to create comfort bags for children who have been detained from their biological homes and placed in a Tapestry shelter home and foster homes. These bags will help provide the children with a sense of ownership, which often goes missing when they leave their homes. Your contribution will be felt far and wide by the youth in Mendocino County, and for that we thank you,” the Foster Care Department at Tapestry Family Services said.
“Thank you so much for all of your efforts in raising money for the Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County,” said Karen Oslund, Executive Director. “We are honored that so many chose to donate, and honored to be on the receiving end of this fun project. The Cancer Resource Centers provide direct help to hundreds of people in our community who face cancer. Your support helps us to ensure that our vision, ‘no one will face cancer alone’ will be a reality here in Mendocino County.”
“Thank you all so much for contributing to the Caring Kitchen Project! Every $25 covers a client’s meals for the week. This means you have supported over 36 weeks of meals. Thank you. We’re so happy to be part of the Willits & Ukiah communities,” said the team at NCO’s Caring Kitchen Project.
As the local community bank, Savings Bank is proud of their tradition of giving back to their communities and the community support and volunteer time that their employees provide.
