KeyBank employees and executives alike spent Wednesday afternoon hard at work in the community as part of their annual Neighbors Make a Difference Day. Several bank employees assisted the Bellville Neighborhood Community Outreach Center (BNOC) in their spring cleaning and organizing efforts.
KeyBank Vice President of Business Banking Sally J. Gesouras said, “It was started about 24 years ago as a way to give back to the community.”
Bank office and branches closed for the day as more than 7,000 employees nationwide volunteered in their community. The volunteers tackled most any task, including dog walking, painting, pulling weeds, and cleaning.
“Today, here in the Mansfield area, we left two branches open for banking businesses. We probably have about 35 employees in the Mansfield – Richland County area out working,” added Gesouras.
Dave Lundregan, Sales Leader with Key Private Bank, a division of Key Bank, explained how the projects are chosen, “We go to our employees and say, ‘What boards are you on?’ ‘What different things are you involved with?’ Then we support those organizations as much as possible. After 24 years, as you might imagine, there are lots of organizations that contact us throughout the year and say, ‘Hey, would you like to help?’”
He noted that the event is strictly voluntary. “The employees have the ability to go in and sign up for what they would like,” added Lundregan. “Different people have passions for different things. Different people have physical abilities to do different things.”
Gesouras said local KeyBank employees were also at Friendly House for the day, as well as Flying Horse Farms.
Carol Hoeflich, food pantry manager and trustee at BNOC, said that the volunteers were being kept busy, “They’re mopping floors, cleaning off the food pantry shelves, defrosting a freezer, breaking down boxes, running the sweeper, washing windows, cleaning bathrooms, just a little bit of everything.”
Hoeflich noted that the assistance was much appreciated. “We are all volunteers,” she said. “We have three hour shifts, and usually in a three hour shift, there isn’t much time to do any extra cleaning. It helps when organizations do come in and help clean.”
Volunteers are always welcome at BNOC. To volunteer, call 419-886-8395. BNOC accepts donations of clothes as well as food. Hoeflich added that flour, sugar, and oil were always in demand, as well as fruits and vegetables. The center is located at 84 Main Street, Bellville.
