bankESB Raises $35,000 for Local Food Pantries

Easthampton, Massachusetts, January 31, 2024 – Matthew S. Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that the bank’s third annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive raised $35,000 for local food pantries. This brings the program’s three-year total to nearly $110,000.

The appeal is part of bankESB’s charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, which reflects the bank’s commitment to making a difference in the neighborhoods it serves. Throughout November, the bank invited customers, employees, and members of the community to donate at bankESB branches. All donations received were matched, dollar for dollar, by bankESB and the total divided among food pantries in Western Massachusetts communities the bank serves.

Each of these participating food pantries received $2,500:

• The Best Life Food Ministry, Agawam 
• BUCC Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry, Belchertown
• The Chicopee Cupboard
• Easthampton Community Center Food Pantry
• Easthampton Congregational Church Food Cupboard & Oasis Kitchen 
• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Hatfield
• The Hadley Food Pantry
• Hilltown Food Pantry, Goshen
• Margaret’s Pantry, Holyoke
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc., South Hadley
• Northampton Survival Center
• Not Bread Alone, Amherst
• Southampton Community Cupboard
• Westfield Food Pantry 

“On behalf of bankESB, I’d like to thank all those who generously donated to our Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraiser to help fight food insecurity in our communities,” said Sosik. “We’re pleased to host this annual appeal and that so much was raised to help families in need this past holiday season and into this new year.” 

In the Photo:

bankESB Broad St., Westfield, Branch Officer Darci Furr presents a check to Elizabeth Eastman, deputy director of the Westfield Food Pantry, one of 14 pantries receiving donations from the bank’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising campaign to help fight food insecurity.

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About bankESB

Founded in 1869 as Easthampton Savings Bank, bankESB is headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts. We have $1.7 billion in assets and offer a complete line of consumer and business deposit and lending products and services through 11 branches located throughout Western Massachusetts. We’re proud to fulfill our community banking mission—providing individualized financial support, a suite of comprehensive products and services, and smart banking technology—all to ensure our customers can unlock their potential and build a successful future. Through our sponsorship and charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, bankESB and the Easthampton Savings Bank Charitable Foundation support non-profit organizations and causes throughout Hampden and Hampshire counties. In 2023 alone, The Giving Tree donated nearly $635,000 and over the past decade has donated more than $3.6 million. For more information, visit bankESB.com.

bankESB is a member of the Hometown Financial Group, a $4.6 billion mutual multi-bank holding company headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and the parent company of the family of banks that includes bankESB, bankHometown, and Abington Bank as well as Hometown Mortgage. Hometown Financial is proud to be recognized nationally as a two-time Top Workplaces Financial Services Industry award winner in 2023 and 2022 and a Top Workplaces USA award winner in 2022, as well as to receive a 2023 Top Places to Work award by The Boston Globe, and a 2022 Top Workplaces award by the Hartford Courant.

For more information, visit bankHFG.com.