Community Financial System, Inc. Culture and Diversity Council

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

Each branch has chosen its own activities based on the specific needs of its community. Donations range from food baskets and children’s gifts to holiday dinners for families and much more. This year, specific local activities include:

Upstate New York

• The Tupper Lake branch is collecting canned food items for the Tupper Lake Community Food Pantry.
• Several branches are collecting 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 will also gather pet food and supplies for the Tri-Lakes Humane Society.
• The Chateaugay branch is collecting winter clothing for its annual mitten tree. Clothing will be donated to the Brainardsville Methodist Church. The branch will also be collecting names in memory of loved ones to add to the Village of Chateaugay’s memory tree.
• The Saranac Lake branch will collect toys, clothes, shoes, boots, winter outerwear, and board games for Holiday Helpers.
• In the Adirondack region, the Champlain branch will gather food for “Stuff the Strand” and distribution to local food shelters. They’ll also host a drive for outdoor clothing for students in need at Mooers Elementary.
• Food drives will be organized by the Clymer and Palmyra branches.
• The Watertown branch will donate to the Salvation Army.
• Team members at the Amsterdam branch will deliver gifts and meals to seniors in the community through the Montgomery County Office of Aging.
• Oneonta will collect winter clothing for Family Services of Oneonta. Other branches collecting clothing and winter outerwear include Seneca Falls, Randoph, Olean North Union, Palmyra, Bolivar, Wellsville, and Black River.
• In addition to local toy-drive donations, the Chittenango branch will collect nonperishable food items for the Town of Sullivan Food Pantry and will donate items to the Madison County Foster Kids program.
• Oneida is participating in a giving tree through Catholic Charities. Customers can take a tag off the tree to purchase gifts for Onieda-area families in need.
• Cazenovia is collecting gifts for local kids through Caz Cares.
• The Hornell Steuben Square branch is collecting items for the Hornell Salvation Army and the Hornell Area Humane Society.
• The team in Elmira is organizing a collection for a Senior Stocking Stuffers Drive through United Way of the Southern Tier.
• The Franklinville branch is collecting pajamas for a local nursing home’s “Jammies for Grammies” initiative.
• In Bolivar, branch team members are collecting gift cards, clothing, donations, and household items for America Legion Post #722.
• In Alexandria Bay, the branch will be collecting toiletries for a local school’s backpack program, which provides everyday items for students in need.

Northeastern Pennsylvania

• Several branches are collecting 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. 
• The Salvation Army will be supported by the Scranton Davis Street/Minooka, Montrose, and Scranton Keyser Avenue branches. The Hazleton South Church Street branch will be collecting mittens with a mitten tree to donate to the Salvation Army as well. 
• The Wilkes-Barre branch in Liberty Plaza and the Pittston branch are collecting clothing and other items for the Nurse’s Pantry, including hygiene essentials, footwear, outerwear, undergarments, school supplies, and lice treatment kits. A clothing drive is also underway at the Laceyville branch.
• Team members at the Tunkhannock branch have been raising money throughout the year to purchase gifts for families in need in Wyoming County through the Interfaith Friends Adopt a Family for Christmas program.
• Poinsettias will be purchased for the ARC by the Scranton Keyser Avenue branch.
• The Daleville branch team is participating in the Lackawanna County Adopt an Angel Program.
• Team members across several branches, including the Wilkes-Barre South Main Street branch, will be volunteering to read letters to Santa, purchase and wrap presents, and deliver packages on Christmas Eve through Valley Santa.
• The Freeland branch is collecting pet supplies for Friends with Paws Pet Rescue.
• The Lansford and Hazelton Airport branches are organizing food drives for local pantries.

New England

• The following branches are collecting children’s toys for Toys for Tots and other local toy drives: Manchester Center, Winooski, Bennington, Hardwick, Jericho, South Burlington Shelburne Road, and Burlington College Street.
• The Manchester Center branch is sponsoring the community firefighters’ breakfast.
• The South Burlington branch on Shelburne Road is collecting bedding for kids for Sleep in Heavenly Peace Vermont.
• Several branches are organizing food drives for local pantries: St. Johnsbury, Waterbury, Bristol, and South Burlington Willison Road.
• Clothing drives have been initiated by the following branches: Bennington, Barre, Bradford, Fair Haven, and Bristol.
• The team at the Hardwick branch is collecting gifts for children and seniors through the Hardwick Area Children’s Project.
• Williston, Williston Road, and Shelburne Road branches will have gift tags that can be taken to purchase items or make donations to Hope Lodge in Burlington, VT.
• Winooski is donating $500 in gift cards to KidSafe Collaborative.