BankRI collects 1,400 gifts for kids

PROVIDENCE – Nearly 1,400 gifts made their way to underprivileged children in Rhode Island as a result of Bank Rhode Island’s “Holiday Giving Tree” program.
Bank customers, community members and staff donated the gifts over the course of three weeks, the bank said. These included bicycles, Lego sets, dolls, board games, action figures, sports equipment and remote control cars.
Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, each BankRI branch displayed a holiday giving tree decorated with the wishes of children served by that branch’s nonprofit partner. Community members, bank customers and staff then selected ornaments to grant children’s holiday wishes, returning to place the gifts beneath the tree.
Gifts were picked up by BankRI’s nonprofit partners and distributed in advance of the Christmas holiday.
“Few things are more touching at this time of year than seeing a child’s face light up when they’re given a special gift for the holidays,” said Mark J. Meiklejohn, president and CEO of BankRI. “And thanks to the generosity of so many across our communities, children who otherwise may not have received a present were able to experience the joy of the season while knowing others are thinking of them.”
Nonprofit partners of the bank’s 18th annual holiday giving tree effort included Adoption Rhode Island, Aids Care Ocean State, Community Care Alliance, Connecting for Children and Families, East Bay Community Action Program, House of Hope, Kingstown Crossings, Sstarbirth, ’Tis the Season Coventry/West Greenwich, East Greenwich Department of Human Services, Tri-Town Community Action, Welcome House of South County and Women’s Center of Rhode Island.
For more information, visit www.bankrhodeislandcom.