With Thanksgiving just a few weeks past and the holiday season in full swing, the spirit of giving is in the air. Here at Maple Street, we definitely feel it!
Giving back is part of our DNA at Maple Street. Not only is it a good thing we feel called to do, but it’s part of who our clients are. Community banks and credit unions were founded to help build better communities, and we see the impact of that every day through our clients. We’re honored to be able to make a difference for them so that they, in turn, can make a difference for their neighbors.
At our company, we also aim to live out this value in tangible ways for our employees, so we can make a difference in our own community. And, we don’t want to limit giving to just one season. Today, we’re sharing a few of the ways we’ve given back this year.
January—Helping kids
Every year, our team takes time to make some fleece tie blankets to donate to Kids House of Seminole. Not only is this a fun way to bond, it’s for an incredibly important cause. Kids House works with law enforcement, the state attorney’s office, medical personnel, child protection professionals, social workers, and licensed mental health counselors to break the cycle of violence often seen with child abuse. It is a warm, child-centric environment where victims can find a variety of services all under one roof. As we send these blankets off every year, we hope they provide children in our community comfort when they need it most. And, for the employees working hard remotely, we also donated $200 to a charity of their choice—so we’re spreading the goodness outward!
June—Sharing hope
In June, our team collected donations for ESTHER Single Mothers Outreach. This organization extends hope to single mothers so they can raise the next generation. We were proud to donate supplies these moms might need most, like shower products, toilet paper, diapers, and more.
August—Supporting education
As all parents know, August means back to school…and that can be expensive. We absolutely love our local teachers and schools and want to know that all students can pursue education without worrying about supplies. This year, we collected crayons, notebooks, scissors, pencils, and more, all to donate to our local school system’s program for students in need.
November—Combatting hunger
With the Thanksgiving feast on the horizon, this November, we wanted to help with hunger in our community. With the generous support of our employees, we were able to take a trunk full of food to HOPE Helps, Inc. They provide Housing, Outreach, Prevention and Education to help individuals and families become self-sufficient, with the goal of combatting hunger and homelessness. The food we donated went to their food pantry, which they provide four days a week free of cost.
December—Making spirits bright
Donating toys to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office for their drive has become another Maple Street tradition for us and our team members. This year, our team brought in everything from a light-up pool table to purses and accessories for kids of all ages. We know how special this time of year is, and we love to think about a child in our community having something from their list to open this holiday season.
Giving back and being part of the community is important to us at Maple Street, and we are grateful to have been able to support all of these causes. We hope you might be inspired to support a cause you’re passionate about in your community in 2024.
We look forward to continuing to share the good in the new year, and we wish you and yours a very special holiday season.