PROVIDENCE – This year Bank Rhode Island celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Holiday Giving Tree program by donating more than 1,500 gifts to local children in need.
Mark J. Meiklejohn, president and CEO of BankRI, said in a statement, the institution is “extremely grateful” to those who participated and made someone else’s holiday brighter. “The old saying that it is better to give than to receive could not be more apt when you consider the community’s response to our Holiday Giving Tree,” he said.
Children wrote their holiday gift wishes on ornaments, which were then hung on trees in the 20 BankRI branches across Rhode Island on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Requested gifts included superhero action figures, Lego playsets, Barbie dolls, board games and puzzles, Nerf toys, arts and craft kits, Hot Wheels and bicycles.
BankRI customers and the community then came together to collect gifts over the next four weeks in support of those in need.
Nonprofit partners that distributed the gifts to the children include Adoption Rhode Island; Aids Care Ocean State; Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick; Community Care Alliance; Connecting for Children & Families, domestic violence program of Crossroads Rhode Island; East Bay Community Action Program; Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center; Kingstown Crossings; Lucy’s Hearth; Providence Housing Authority; SSTARbirth; ’Tis the Season Coventry/West Greenwich; town of East Greenwich Department of Human Services; Tri-Town Community Action Agency; and Welcome House of South County.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.