Nearly 900 Horizon Bank Advisors spread out to volunteer at over 80 nonprofit organizations on Thursday, September 12, as part of the second annual Horizon Cares Day. Horizon Bank closed all of its branches located in Indiana and Michigan for the day to allow its Advisors to give back to their local communities.
Advisors volunteered at food pantries, animal shelters, youth and senior centers, and community organizations of all kinds. Tasks ranged from helping with day-to-day chores and errands to helping organizations finish projects they usually lack the time or hands to complete.
In LaPorte County alone, nearly 200 Horizon Advisors volunteered in service of the community. Steve Kring, Horizon’s Regional President, volunteered with his team members by working with LaPorte Parks Department to beautify Fort LaPlay Porte and walking trails in Kesling Park by spreading mulch and staining the fence.
“Our second annual Horizon Cares Day is a wonderful day of giving back and making a meaningful difference in the communities we also call home”, stated Kring. “It is our privilege to donate our time to these organizations that positively impact the lives of so many in our communities every day.”
The Advisors of Horizon Bank’s Gary, Indiana branch visited YWCA of Northwest Indiana, a community service organization that has served women and children in the Region for over 100 years.
The Horizon team did an array of tasks for the YWCA but focused primarily on tending to its garden of herbs, fruits, and vegetables, planted by the children who frequent the YWCA and funded with the help of Purdue University. The garden is both a learning tool for children and a source of healthy food for YWCA members, particularly senior citizens. Erin Sherrow-Hayse, NEP Community Wellness Coordinator for Purdue Extension – Lake County, praised Horizon for its volunteer efforts.
“It’s absolutely amazing; there can never be too many volunteers, especially at a place like the YWCA where they’re doing so many wonderful things,” she said. “Coming up and providing an extra pair of hands so that work can continue to flourish is great.”
Keyona Gibson, an Advisor with the Gary branch, grew up in the Gary community and highlighted how important organizations such as YWCA are.
“There’s a lot of things that need to be done in Gary, and it’s important for Horizon to be out here helping organizations like this,” she said. “Being from Gary and going to high school out here, I know a lot about the area. I think that the YWCA is a good community center, and they do so much for kids after school and seniors. It’s great for the area.”
Horizon’s Portage branch Advisors tackled food insecurity in a different way by volunteering at Nativity Food Pantry. Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President Michael E. Sarver explained the pantry’s impact on the community.
“They are really important to the public. They open every two weeks and serve about 500 families total each month,” he said. “It’s really important to us at Horizon that everyone, not just our managers, get out and serve their communities. Horizon giving us the day off to do this is so great, and it’s nice to be here helping out.”
Horizon Cares Day proved to be another extension of Horizon’s commitment to the communities it serves. Whether supporting animal shelters, food pantries, or other nonprofit organizations, Horizon’s Advisors are always willing to lend a helping hand.
To learn more about Horizon Bank, visit horizonbank.com.