Bank Independent begins school supply collection
By Staff Reports
Bank Independent has announced its second annual School Share drive to help local children and their families prepare for a new school year. All 28 Bank Independent locations will accept donations of school supplies through Aug. 7.
“Our community donated over 3,500 items to our first annual School Share drive in 2014,” said Macke Mauldin, Bank Independent President. “Our partner organizations were able to give hundreds of children the school supplies they needed. We’ve expanded this event this year so that we can exceed last year’s donations and help even more local families.”
Although any school supply donation will be appreciated, partner organizations have requested crayons, markers, ear buds/headphones, rulers, folders, paper, notebooks, glue, and pencils. New or gently used backpacks will also be accepted.
Bank Independent’s School Share partner organizations include Department of Human Resources of Franklin County, the Committee on Church Cooperation in Morgan County, Department of Human Resources of Lawrence County, Department of Human Resources of Limestone County and Sidney’s Safe! Foundation in the Shoals area.
This year the drive will culminate with “Pack the Bus” live events at Walmart locations on Hough Road in Florence and Beltline Road in Decatur on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bank Independent volunteers will collect and pack donations into a school bus until 1 p.m., when local charitable organizations will arrive to pick up the donations for distribution to area families.
The Share drives are part of Bank Independent’s Helping Hands program, which also includes employee volunteer efforts, donations and sponsorships. Helping Hands was inspired by employee requests for organized volunteer opportunities after the April 27, 2011, tornadoes. Since then, Bank Independent employees have donated nearly 3,000 hours in paid volunteer time to community efforts.
Local Bank Independent locations are: 401 N. Jackson Ave., Russellville; 13566 Highway 43, Russellville; and 117 4th Ave. S., Red Bay.
