Picture This

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Neighbors Helping Neighbors

bankESB’s fifth annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive raised a total of $42,000 for 14 local food pantries, bringing the program’s five-year total to $161,734.92. 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. 

Pictured from left: volunteers Lunette Shaw and Chitra Amarasiriwardena; Noelani Schober, kitchen leader with Not Bread Alone in Amherst; Bob Stove, program supervisor with Not Bread Alone; Deb Napier, administrative volunteer with Not Bread Alone; and George Michelakis, branch officer at bankESB.

Pictured: Theresa Allie, a volunteer coordinator with Westfield Soup Kitchen (left), and Denise Clark, senior assistant branch manager at bankESB.

Tackling Food Insecurity

A time-honored tradition at Bay Path University is coming together to support a designated charity at its employee recognition and holiday celebration event. This year, Bay Path partnered with Rachel’s Table, one of the largest organizations in Western Mass. working to address food insecurity. Bay Path was able to contribute 114 pounds of food towards Rachel’s Table’s goal of 1 million pounds of food raised in 2025. 

Pictured: Bay Path President Sandra Doran (far right) with, from left, Rachel’s Table’s Laura Katz, board treasurer; Chana Laila, office manager and Development assistant; Ellen Gold, immediate past board president; and Judy Yaffe, board president.

Happy 140th, AIC

American International College (AIC) marked its 140th anniversary on Nov. 19 with a time capsule sealing ceremony in the West Wing Gallery. AIC President Nicolle Cestero (left), Student Government Assoc. President Ireland Stevenson (right), and others spoke as attendees wrote notes to future Yellow Jackets. The capsule includes objects from AIC’s history as well as items reflecting life on campus today, and will remain on display until the college’s 150th anniversary in 10 years. Chartered in 1885 to educate immigrants arriving through New York, AIC opened in Lowell with 25 students and six faculty before relocating to Springfield three years later.

AIC President Nicolle Cestero (left), Student Government Assoc. President Ireland Stevenson (right), and others spoke as attendees wrote notes to future Yellow Jackets