Bank’s food drive achieves more than four times its goal

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

On May 1, First Financial Bank launched a “1,000 Meals a Day in May” food drive to benefit hunger relief organizations throughout its two-state service area.

The bank announced that it exceeded its 31,000-meal goal, collecting food and funds equivalent to 144,514 meals.

First Financial banking centers in Indiana and Illinois received a total of 9,409 non-perishable food items weighing 8,205 pounds. Cash donations totaled $34,419, which includes a corporate contribution from First Financial.

All donations are being distributed in the county in which they were made. Bank associates in each county in the First Financial service area selected the nonprofit organization to receive the food and funds collected, which locally was the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry.

First Financial held a friendly competition among associates to help boost contributions this year. The banking centers in three counties in both Indiana and Illinois with the highest percentage increase in donations over the previous food drive earned an additional corporate contribution for their chosen organizations.

In Indiana, the Putnam County branch in Greencastle took first place, followed by Daviess County in second and Clay County third. In Illinois, Clark County came in first with Champaign County second, and Jasper County third.

Because donations to hunger relief organizations decline after the holiday season, the bank conducted the drive in May to help restock the shelves at foodbanks, food pantries and soup kitchens. The need is especially great during the summer, when children who depend on school meal programs may not have access to adequate food.

“We’re grateful for the outpouring of generosity from our customers, associates, community members and local businesses,” said Karen Milienu, chief branch banking officer at First Financial. “Their kindness will benefit hundreds of children and adults in our area who struggle to get enough to eat.”

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