Spreading holiday cheer across our footprint

Branches across our four-state footprint once again helped spread holiday cheer by lending a hand and giving back to their local neighbors and communities. The bank spread joy this holiday season by sponsoring or hosting charity drives for local non-profits to benefit neighbors in need. 

Upstate New York

• The Tupper Lake branch collected canned food items for the Tupper Lake Community Food Pantry.
• Several branches collected children’s toys to support Toys for Tots and other local toy drives, including Hamilton, Canastota, Ithaca, Chittenango, Delhi, Walton Chittenango, Canandaigua, Jamestown, Palmyra, Clymer, Chatham, and Norwich Town.
• In addition to collecting toys for the North Elba Christmas Fund, the Lake Placid branch gathered pet food and supplies for the Tri-Lakes Humane Society.
• The Chateaugay branch collected winter clothing for its annual mitten tree. Clothing was then donated to the Brainardsville Methodist Church. The branch also collected names in memory of loved ones to add to the Village of Chateaugay’s memory tree.
• The Saranac Lake branch collected toys, clothes, shoes, boots, winter outerwear, and board games for Holiday Helpers.
• In the Adirondack region, the Champlain branch gathered food for “Stuff the Strand” and distribution to local food shelters. They also hosted a drive for outdoor clothing for students in need at Mooers Elementary.
• Food drives were organized by the Clymer and Palmyra branches.
• The Watertown branch donated to the Salvation Army.
• Team members at the Amsterdam branch delivered gifts and meals to seniors in the community through the Montgomery County Office of Aging.
• Oneonta collected winter clothing for Family Services of Oneonta. Other branches that collected clothing and winter outerwear included Seneca Falls, Randoph, Olean North Union, Palmyra, Bolivar, Wellsville, and Black River.
• In addition to local toy-drive donations, the Chittenango branch collected nonperishable food items for the Town of Sullivan Food Pantry and donated items to the Madison County Foster Kids program.
• Oneida participated in a giving tree through Catholic Charities. Customers took tags off the tree to purchase gifts for Onieda-area families in need.
• Cazenovia collected gifts for local kids through Caz Cares.
• The Hornell Steuben Square branch collected items for the Hornell Salvation Army and the Hornell Area Humane Society.
• The team in Elmira organized a collection for a Senior Stocking Stuffers Drive through United Way of the Southern Tier.
• The Franklinville branch collected pajamas for a local nursing home’s “Jammies for Grammies” initiative.
• In Bolivar, branch team members collected gift cards, clothing, donations, and household items for America Legion Post #722.
• In Alexandria Bay, the branch collected toiletries for a local school’s backpack program, which provides everyday items for students in need.

Northeastern Pennsylvania

• Several branches collected children’s toys and Christmas gifts to support Toys for Tots and other local toy drives, including Olyphant, Jermyn, Scranton Davis Street, Scranton Wyoming Avenue, Daleville, Back Mountain, Kingston James Street, Clarks Summit, Lehighton, Hazelton Airport, Wyalusing, and Scranton North Washington Avenue.