LACONIA —The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction organizers are still eagerly seeking select 2025 sponsors to help support the organization and its mission to serve local, low-income children and families.

Most sponsorships have been taken by area businesses, but there are still several opportunities available.

A Max Bid sponsorship is available for $10,000 and six Location Sponsorships can be requested from $500 to $1,500.

Email Jennifer Kelley, the organization’s executive director, at Jenn@childrensauction.org to learn more and become a sponsor.

The 44th annual auction will be held this year from Tuesday, Dec. 9 through Friday, Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Belknap Marketplace in Belmont.

For drop-off locations, ornament locations, sponsorship opportunities and other auction-related news, visit ChildrensAuction.org.

About the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction:

Numerous fundraising events in the Lakes Region throughout the year support the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, including our four-day signature event every December. In the past four decades we have distributed more than $9.2 million to over 80 nonprofits that serve low-income families and children in the Lakes Region, all through volunteer efforts, community donations and corporate sponsorship. The Auction falls under the umbrella of the Greater Lakes Region Charitable Fund for Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps local community organizations that serve children and families in need. For more information about the Auction, the nonprofits it supports and how you can help, visit ChildrensAuction.org.

The post Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction Still Seeks Several Select 2025 Sponsors appeared first on Beetle Press.

Sponsorship of $5,000 offers assist for the organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

FLORENCE— Florence Bank has supported the Mental Health Association’s 26th annual Wellness Classic Golf Tournament with a $5,000 sponsorship, helping the organization live into its mission to better the lives of people challenged by intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Founded in the 1960s and formerly based in Springfield, the Mental Health Association is now located in Chicopee and is a pioneer in community-based support for those living with mental illness, homelessness, intellectual disabilities, brain injuries and substance use. 

The organization offers over 60 residential programs in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties and operates these four divisions, each serving a different segment of need: Recovery and Housing, supporting people with substance use disorders or a mental health diagnosis, and people experiencing chronic homelessness; New Way Services, for those who have experienced a brain injury; Integration and Community Living, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and Bestlife Emotional Health and Wellness, an outpatient behavioral health clinic based in Springfield.

“We help people live their best lives, and we provide access to therapies that provide emotional health and wellness,” said Jen Ducharme, vice president of development and community relations at the Mental Health Association. “Our mission is to serve as many people as possible, as quickly as possible in ways that are person-centered. Everything is catered to the person receiving care because everybody’s needs are different.”

The Mental Health Association serves about 3,500 to 3,800 people each year, and its annual golf classic was held this year on Sept. 27 at Crestview Country Club in Agawam; it typically raises roughly $100,000.

Florence Bank President and CEO Matt Garrity said, “The funds raised for the Wellness Classic enable the Mental Health Organization to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve. We were honored to help by sponsoring so that individuals get the treatment they need to rebuild relationships with family, revive self-worth and independence and live a life of health and wellness.”

Florence Bank is a long-term supporter of the Mental Health Association and has been the organization’s banking partner for about 10 years.

Ducharme said, “Florence Bank has been a wonderful partner to us with all of our banking needs and providing support in many ways for the work that we do. They have a presence—unique and sincere. We know that no matter what, we can count on them to discuss finances or for help with an initiative.”

To learn more about the Mental Health Association or make a donation, visit mhainc.org/.

To learn more about Florence Bank, visit florencebank.com.

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate.

The post Florence Bank Supports the Mental Health Association’s 26th Annual Wellness Classic Golf Tournament appeared first on Beetle Press.

Sponsorships totaling $4,000 will help fund four events offered in a year packed with festivities

FLORENCE—Florence Bank has donated $4,000 to the city of West Springfield to help support four events the city has planned in 2024 as part of a year packed with 250th anniversary festivities. 

Florence Bank’s backing of the West Springfield 250th Celebration specifically offers support for three 5K races, happening in March, July and November; a 250th Block Party on June 22 and 23, when Elm and Central streets will be closed for activities from dancing to vendors and food trucks; family photo sessions at historic town locations; and a golf tournament in July.

Also part of the 250th events in West Springfield in 2024 are a birthday celebration in Clark Field on Feb. 23, the same day West Springfield was incorporated in 1774; a black-tie ball in May; various ongoing public art projects; and a Bright Nights display next winter.

Nikki Gleason, vice president / branch manager in West Springfield, said in addition to the financial support, a team of bank staff will help man some of the events in town. She also noted they are particularly excited to be part of the family photo event on May 11 with photographer Branden Brus, who will capture portraits of interested families who sign up for sessions at a historic town location to be determined.

“I’ve worked in West Springfield for 13 years, the last five with Florence Bank at our West Springfield branch, and I believe in the town and in the way it is celebrating this important anniversary,” Gleason said. “This is such a diverse community. It’s very unique, and I’m pleased that the bank is involved in celebrations that will bring everyone together. It’s a great fit for Florence Bank because supporting community events that bring people together is really important to us.”

Sarah Calabrese-Dunphy, anniversary committee co-chair, agreed. “Florence Bank has shown a commitment to the well-being of our town that goes beyond just providing financial services. Through sponsorships, donations, and volunteerism, Florence Bank has helped improve the lives of our local kids, families and the community as a whole.”

Carly Camossi, chief of operations for West Springfield and co-chair of the anniversary committee, said over 100 business sponsors are part of the anniversary celebrations, and over 400 area residents attended the mayoral ball kick-off event earlier this year. 

“It’s amazing to me how many people want to participate,” said Camossi, who grew up in West Springfield. “Everyone is incredibly generous and feels that community spirit. It’s very humbling.”

Since 2007, Florence Bank has had a presence in West Springfield, which was enhanced five years ago, when the current full-service branch opened at 1010 Union Street. 

To learn more about West Springfield’s 250th, visit Westside250.com.

To volunteer or offer an idea, email Celebrate250@tows.org.

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate.

The post Florence Bank Supports West Springfield’s 250th Celebration appeared first on Beetle Press.

Area residents who are food insecure and local farmers all benefit

FLORENCE—Florence Bank is pleased to announce it has made a $50,000 sponsorship pledge to Grow Food Northampton to help provide healthy, local food to area residents who are food insecure at a time when federal food benefits are scaling back to pre-pandemic levels.

Helen Kahn, the manager of the Grow Food Northampton Tuesday and Winter Farmers Markets, said the sponsorship will help residents who receive federally sponsored food support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) double their purchases of local food through Grow Food’s SNAP Match program year-round.

The summer and winter farmers markets are an important source of locally grown, healthy food for low-income families. When SNAP customers purchase tokens at the market, Grow Food Northampton provides an extra $10 of tokens free through SNAP Match. Because these tokens can only be spent at the markets, the program directly benefits the farmers as well. 

The outdoor Tuesday Markets are held every Tuesday behind Thornes Marketplace from 1:30-6:30 p.m., April 18-Nov. 7. From November through March, the market moves inside to the Northampton Senior Center and is held biweekly. 

Florence Bank’s gift, to be offered in increments of $10,000 per year for five years, comes at a time when additional federal support for SNAP provided during the pandemic has been halted, and it also allows Grow Food Northampton to expand its SNAP Match program to serve more families who qualify.

“Many families relied on those extra funds, and even though the pandemic is ‘over,’ food insecurity continues,” Kahn said. “We expect and hope that the number of people in our community on SNAP who come to our farmers markets to access local food will increase. Local business sponsorships are critical for allowing Grow Food Northampton to meet the increasing demands on the SNAP Match program at our farmers markets.”

Matt Garrity, president and CEO of Florence Bank said, “We have a mission to serve the community, and we are pleased to be able to support Grow Food Northampton and those it serves at a time when the need is great. We are proud to help fund a program that provides healthy and nutritious food options for folks in need.”

SNAP Match serves a broad spectrum of community residents. “From 20-somethings to seniors, individuals and families of all ethnicities within our community are accessing SNAP Match at our markets,” Kahn said. 

She added that it’s important for Grow Food Northampton to keep growing the SNAP Match program because 15 percent of the population of Northampton receives SNAP benefits, but not everyone knows about the program or how to access it. 

In March 2023, 12,640 households in Hampshire County were eligible. Last year, though, only 912 households took advantage of the program, up from 650 households in 2021. 

In 2019, SNAP Match was funded with $14,800 raised from sponsorships. Last year, $45,000 was raised and assisted people at both the Tuesday and Winter Markets. Through local business sponsorships, Grow Food Northampton is prepared to provide $65,000 in SNAP Match during this year’s market seasons.

“We have so much gratitude for Florence Bank,” Kahn said. “Their gift represents a huge percentage of the funds we’re providing to the community. Florence Bank is a great community neighbor.”

Florence Bank is one of 24 sponsors this year.

The Tuesday Market was founded in 2008 by Oona Coy and Ben James of Town Farm; it became a program of Grow Food Northampton in 2016, and Northampton’s Winter Market became a Grow Food Northampton program in 2021.

Kahn was hired by Grow Food Northampton in 2021. Previously the owner of the Cup and Top café in Florence, she said she loves being back in the local world of food and farms: “I’m seeing former customers at the market. I’m in a world I like to be in.”

Florence Bank has branches in Amherst, Belchertown, Chicopee, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Northampton, Williamsburg, West Springfield, Springfield, and it is headquartered in Florence.

To learn more about SNAP Match, visit www.growfoodnorthampton.org/snap-match/.

To learn more about Florence Bank, visit www.florencebank.com.

About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through FSB Financial Group (FSBFG) to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

The post Florence Bank Announces $50,000 Pledge to Grow Food Northampton to Support its SNAP Match Program appeared first on Beetle Press.