Friend Inc. Community Services received a $500 donation from the Santander branch in Kutztown, as part of the bank’s “Ideas for Good” giving campaign.
“I feel it’s really great that Santander is making this donation to Friend Inc. for the Kutztown community to support people in need. They’re a great organization,” said John Scott, Vice President, Santander Branch Manager in Kutztown.
Customers were able to cast votes in the branch in order to select a deserving community non-profit organization to be the recipient of the award. The campaign was part of Santander’s effort to introduce its new name to the community.
Santander presented the donation to Friend Inc Community Services Oct. 21.
“I think it’s great for Friend. It’s nice that companies such as Santander understand what’s going on in the community and are willing to help,” said Friend Inc. Executive Director Sandra Wise.
The donation will go toward Friend Inc.’s food pantry, which serves more than 200 people a month. Between 2013 to 2014, their average attendance increased 18 percent.
“The need is there and continues to rise,” said Wise. “We really need to make sure we can meet the need in the community.”
Wise believes the rise in need may be attributed to people that might be working “but they’re not making a wage in which they can fully take care of their families.”
Food pantry allows them to use the money they’re saving on food for utility bills and “we’re helping them with the food,” said Wise.
“I think it’s great that local communities can help out,” said Laura Reichart, Case Manager at Friend. “When we get cash donations we can buy our food for our food bank a lot cheaper rather than somebody going out and buying food. With $500 we can feed a lot more families.”
“If we can help people eat and not be hungry and they can still pay their regular bills and maybe even help them save a little so they can better their lives, I think that’s fantastic,” said Scott.
Santander Bank presented more than 500 non-profit organizations around its nine-state foot print with donations recently as part of its “Ideas for Good” giving campaign. The initiative was created to help introduce the Bank’s new name to communities. Customers voted at their local branches for the community non-profit organizations they most wanted to receive donations.
“I’m absolutely honored to be a part of Santander. I work with people like John as well as community organizations and see money given back to local communities,” said Travis Lehr, District Executive at Santander Kutztown.
