First American Bank & Trust’s 2016 Bank-wide Spring Fundraiser is benefitting Habitat for Humanity.  We chose this organization because they are local to each of our branch markets and, more importantly, because they are doing great works in our communities.  Habitat offers a “hand up” to folks in need, right here in our neighborhoods.  They offer permanent solutions for families in need, rather than placing a Band-Aid over their situations.

To fundraise for Habitat we held a Shred Day event, hosted bake sales, are giving our employees the opportunity to participate in Jeans Fridays, and are selling house cutouts in each of our branches.  To support Habitat additionally, we have placed item collection boxes in our branches to give customers and employees the opportunity to donate new or gently used items such as: framing hammers, nail aprons, safety glasses, and tape measures.

We have two Build Days scheduled in Athens – something that we participated in last summer and was thoroughly rewarding. Our first build day was Saturday, June 25, and the next one is Saturday, July 30.  This is a great experience and appreciate that all skill levels are welcome to volunteer.  Oftentimes, the individual whose home you are building is also on site assisting with the build, which allows you to put a face with the name for whom you are building and get to know that person’s story.  It’s truly a wonderful day.

Originally our fundraising was supposed to conclude at the end of May.  However, we are so passionate about this cause and want to raise the maximum amount of funds possible, so we have extended our Jeans Friday fundraiser and house cutout sales through the end of July.  We are pleased to say that throughout the campaign we have raised over $1,500 – we look forward to raising more throughout the remainder of the campaign for this worthy organization.  Once our campaign concludes, funds will be distributed to the Habitat chapters in the markets in which they were raised: Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity of Rabun County, and Barrow County Habitat for Humanity.