01/19/2012 Island Connections Receives Bar Harbor Bank & Trust 'Community Commitment' Funds
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust's Southwest Harbor branch staff presents a Community Commitment donation check to John Lawrence of Island Connections. Shown from left to right are: Hildie Kane, Lisa Parsons, Bristol Timmons, Stephanie Shuster, Edith Schwartz, Claire Ohmeis, Colleen Maynard and John Lawrence.
Southwest Harbor, Maine — Each week, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust directors and employees, in exchange for being able to dress casually on Fridays, voluntarily contribute to a charitable fund that disburses gifts monthly to local non-profit organizations. This employee-driven donation program is called Community Commitment. The Bank matches the employee donations, doubling the amount given to the chosen non-profit organization. Each month a different bank location gets to choose the recipient of these contributions.
For the month of December, employees at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust's Southwest Harbor branch chose Island Connections to receive the Community Commitment funds.
Island Connections provides services to seniors, the elderly, and people with disabilities on Mount Desert Island and the surrounding islands. John Lawrence, Island Connection's Acting Director says, "Our motto is 'neighbors helping neighbors.' With our services, people are able to live more independently and enjoy a better quality of life." Through their team of dedicated volunteers, Island Connections offers the following services at no charge to their clients: transportation to healthcare appointments, grocery store, wellness and social events as well as Friend to Friend visits where volunteers will spend time with a neighbor offering conversation and company.
"As the population on MDI ages, requests for transportation are out pacing the recruitment of new volunteer drivers," said John. "Drivers are our most precious resource. They volunteer their time and their vehicles to take clients to health appointments and on other errands that most of us take for granted." With the current high price of gas, funds are needed to purchase gas cards to offset the volunteers' personal cost of service. In addition, Island Connections volunteers serve as the "wheels" for the local Meals on Wheels program. Right now drivers are needed to do short, local, in-town trips particularly in Bar Harbor. "Whether it's a drive once a week or once a month, we would be delighted to welcome new volunteer drivers," said John. If you would like to make a contribution to Island Connections, please send checks to 15 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or donate online at www.islconnections.org.
Founded in 1887, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is a community bank with 12 locations along the coast of Maine. They offer a full range of financial services and products for families, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is a subsidiary of Bar Harbor Bankshares (AMEX:BHB) and is named as one of the 2011 Best Places to Work in Maine. For more information call 207-288-3314 or go to www.bhbt.com.
