Bank to hold food drive, mitten, hat collection
by KIMBERLY M. KARCHER Clarence Editor

The holiday season is upon us, and employees at Waterford Village Bank are asking community members to not only think of friends and family during these times, but also those less fortunate.

Waterford Village Bank has planned a food drive for the month of November; a hat, mitten and scarves collection for the month of December; and employees of the bank will also take it upon themselves to "adopt" a family in need during the holiday season.

"During November we will be collecting non-perishable food items," said Judy Mc- Cauley, senior vice president of retail administration at Waterford Village Bank. "We will be taking canned foods as well as boxed, non-perishable items like potatoes, stuffing and other foods."

McCauley said the bank hasn't chosen which organization will benefit from the food drive, but she said she expects they will spread the donations among many organizations.

"We've looked at a lot of places within the community and outside of it as well," she said. "We are hoping to give to as many as we can."

McCauley said the bank will accept donations during its hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m Friday.

"The food drive really started off as something we wanted to do as a bank internally with our employees," McCauley said. "But we have such great customers and the community is so giving, we thought we would open it up to all our customers and the community at large."

McCauley noted the latest fundraiser Waterford Village Bank hosted, "Fill the Hummer," in which the community was called upon to fill a Hummer vehicle with school supplies for needy children.

"The response to 'Fill the Hummer' was overwhelming," she said. "We thought since the community did such a great job supporting us with that, then why not do a food and warm clothing drive."

The warm clothing collection will be held during the month of December, and Mc- Cauley said the bank will be collecting new, unused mittens, gloves, scarves and hats to be donated to local shelters and churches.

"These items can be of any size...children to adult," McCauley said. "We are hoping to help those who may not be able to afford the necessary items to keep warm during the winter months."

Hats, mittens and other items for winter can be dropped off at the bank during business hours during the month of December.

Also during the holiday season, as an internal project, bank employees will be "adopting" a family.

"Through a local organization, we are going to give a family in need a proper holiday," McCauley said, noting the bank's employees' desire to be involved in volunteering and charitable organizations. "Many of us have been involved with volunteering in the past and it's just something we wanted to continue here at Waterford."

McCauley said bank employees will make sure all donated items make their way to the needy members of the community this holiday season.

Waterford Village Bank is located at 8411 Main St., near Arondale Drive. To learn more about the bank, visit www.waterfordvillagebank. com

e-mail:kkarcher@beenews.com