Franklin Savings Bank employees come together multiple times a year to celebrate achievements as well creatively give back to our communities. In the past, employees have looked at ways to tackle food insecurity. Employees chose to give back to local school districts by providing food and funds for programs that assist students and their families regularly during the week, weekends and over school breaks.

FSB departments and branches split into 15 teams for a week of celebration and spirited competition. Each team gathered items, donated funds and battled in challenges counting as “points” for the week, working toward a final matching monetary donation from the bank. The teams collected canned, boxed and other high demand packaged foods. Teams took special care to focus on bringing in items that the schools could not get through partnerships with Good Shepherd. Along with more than $700 brought in by employees was the staggering amount of food. Over 3,500 food items were donated as a part of this project.

The bank had originally agreed to match team’s monetary donations to each school, but after seeing the outpouring of support and the employee’s willingness to give — it was decided that each district would be getting a full $2,500 donation on top of the money and items donated by FSB employees.

Last week, Franklin Savings employees made deliveries to 11 local school districts, leaving many speechless. A few recipients shared what the donations meant to the programs.

From a message from Kristen Wroble, who helps run Regional School Unit 9, Mallett School Food Pantry stating, “Thanks again for your kindness. During your coffee this weekend think about how local kids are having breakfast, too, because of your generosity. That’s a reality. Thank you.” To Lindsay Richards of the Rangeley Schools expressing, “Love (for) when the community can collaborate for the better of our members,” according to a news release from the bank.

Kasey Flagg of RSU 10 exclaimed, “We are blown away by your generosity! Thank you for supporting our students and school community! We are so thankful!”

And Chelsey Carrier, a Skowhegan local that assists with the district’s backpack program, shared “Thanks to the very generous (and surprise!) donation we have no doubt that we will reach our goal of covering all the food boxes and support our future weekly bags.”

Reflecting on the week, Franklin Savings Bank President and CEO, Tim Thompson, said, “Community Service is in our Mission Statement. It is very meaningful to see the Franklin Savings Bank team working together for the benefit of the students and families in the communities we serve.”