bankESB Raises $42,000 for Local Food Pantries

EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that the bank’s fifth annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive raised $42,000 for local food pantries, bringing the program’s five-year total to $161,734.92.

The appeal is part of bankESB’s charitable giving program, the Giving Tree, which reflects the bank’s commitment to making a difference in the neighborhoods it serves. Throughout October, the bank invited customers, employees, and members of the community to donate at bankESB branches. All donations received were matched, dollar for dollar, by bankESB, and the total divided among food pantries in Western Mass. communities the bank serves.

Each of these participating food pantries received $3,000: Best Life Food Ministry, Agawam; BUCC Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry, Belchertown; Easthampton Community Center Food Pantry; Easthampton Congregational Church Food Cupboard & Oasis Kitchen; Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Chicopee; Hadley Food Pantry; Hilltown Food Pantry, Goshen; Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, Chicopee; Margaret’s Pantry, Holyoke; Neighbors Helping Neighbors Inc., South Hadley; Northampton Survival Center; Not Bread Alone, Amherst; Southampton Community Cupboard; and Westfield Food Pantry.