Giving with Interest Cookbook

Community First Bank & Trust employees Sabrina Donegan and Karen York are using their Giving First dollars to raise money for Harvest Share in all 4 counties the bank serves. The recipe book will include over 200 recipes including Appetizers and Breads, Casseroles and Vegetables, Beverages, Main Dishes, Cakes and Sweets, Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Puddings and Pies and soups and salads.

Employees of Community First Bank & Trust’s Murfreesboro office pooled together their Giving First money, a total of $250, to buy essential items such as diapers, paper towels, feminine products, socks, and more to the West Main Mission.

West Main Mission serves just over two-thusand families translating into 4,750 individuals in Rutherford and Cannon Counties on average each year.  The Mission provides clothing, shoes, emergency food boxes, take out lunches, Christmas gifts, school items, small appliances, and other household items, along with special gifts to those who lose their home to a fire, and do not have insurance.  Based on conservative estimates, the Mission will distribute:  $50,000 in clothing and household items, $50,000 in take out lunches, $6,500 in emergency food boxes, $30,000 in rags to Salvation Army, $2,000 in fire victim relief and $40,000 in Christmas gifts.

The only way the Mission continues to operate is through financial and gift donations.

Animal Shelter Relief

Several employees from the bank’s main office at James Campbell Blvd  gathered together to focus on a charitable cause close to their hearts:  helping shelter animals.  These employees used their Giving First funds to purchase food and supplies and created a donation bin at the office for customers to make donations.  A large outpouring of support came from this small collection, in total $600 worth of pet food and supplies was donated to Paw of maury County, Snooty Giggles Pet Rescue and the Maury County Animal Shelter.

A Giving First initiative led by Karen Demastus, Community First Bank & Trust employees recently donated $200 to the newly opened aMuse’um in Downtown Columbia, with the opportunity for an additional donation in sight.  aMuse’um is Columbia’s first children’s play museum offering children of all ages the opportunity to learn through sensory activities such as gardening, play dress-up, puzzles, games and other fun experiences.  Their mission is to open a world of exploration, past, present and future, that encourages children to become learners, thinkers and creators.  aMuse’um hopes to raise $100,000 in order to establish a larger, permanent Columbia location in the future.

Pictured: Community First Bank employees Karen Demastus, Tonya Little and Lee Hooks, Director of Finance for aMuse’um.

Giving First Book Drive

As Gina Sensing served her role in her Adopt-A-class program at Centerville Elementary School, she noticed that the classroom had a very limited amount of reading material for the children.  Then the opportunity presented itself to help them purchase books through Community First Bank & Trust Giving First program.  As she opened the idea up to fellow employees, she found that people were happy to donate books.  Soon the local newspaper caught wind of her “book drive” and published her efforts.  Between community and employee donations, Gina was able to donate 408 books to Centerville Elementary School, providing new and gently used reading material for every grade in the school!  Gina also presented a $50 check to Mrs. Angela Campbell’s Pre-K classroom that was donated by fellow employee, Dianne Breece.

Making A Differnce for Makala Phelan

Makala Phelan, a 5th grade student in Spring Hill, suffers from Campomelic Dysplasia, a rare genetic condition.  Makala is only three foot tall and bound to a wheelchair due to the loss of usage of her legs.  Currently Makala uses a manual wheelchair however, prior to attending middle school next year, Makala needs an electric wheelchair, which can cost well over $8,000.  Community First employees so far has raised $600 to assist her in the purchase of the new wheelchair.  A benefit, held in her honor, to raise money will also be held April 29th at The Factory hosting Grammy winning songwriters and local talent.  Community First Bank & Trust is selling both tickets to the event and continuing to take public donations at any area branch.

Troy Parks, a resident of Columbia, was injured last fall in a hunting accident and is fully paralyzed.  Although Troy had health insurance, there are many costs incurred that were not covered such as purchasing a van to accommodate his wheelchair, modifying their home to be wheelchair accessible, etc.  Recently close family members and friends held an auction to raise money to offset some of these financial burdens.  Many CFBK employees attended the event and two employees donated their Giving First funds to his cause.  The family was overwhelmed with the genorosity of the community and Troy’s condition continues to improve with his family’s support.