Approximately $5,800 was given to dozens of local organizations Wednesday morning in cash drawings at Farmers Bank & Trust’s 27th Annual Holiday Charity Coffee. Market President Robert Rugan noted that the bank and its employees also donated $2,700 annually through United Way of Central Kansas.
“It really does take everyone to make a community,” Rugan told those who attended the coffee at the banks’s 1017 Harrison St. location.
“The charity, the work done by these organizations in the community, really makes our hometown a better place to be. So, thank you all for your hard work on that aspect.” He also thanked all of the veterans in attendance. “Without your service, we wouldn’t have the country we live in, so thank you.”
The bank has existed for 116 years and during this giving program it has donated $142,000 back into the community.
It paid to be present at the coffee. Thirty-four organizations each received at least $100 but a representative had to be present to be eligible for the drawings for larger prizes.
Lasting Life Ministries received $500, Barton County Youth Care Inc. received $400, and the Great Bend Police Department’s D.A.R.E. program received $300.
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice, Meals on Wheels of Barton County and Central Kansas Partnership each received $200.
Salvation Army, Community Food Bank of Barton County, The Center for Counseling & Consultation, Central Kansas Association for the Visually Impaired, Golden Belt Humane Society, United Way of Central Kansas, Central Kansas CASA Inc., Central Kansas Dream Center, Family Crisis Center and Kansas Children’s Service League each received $150.
The group with the most representatives received a $200 “Participation Award.” That went to Central Kansas Partnership, with 17 representatives at the coffee, including some Youth Crew members.
A $500 donation was made to Sunflower Diversified Services Inc. in memory of Don Brening, who served as Bank Officer in the Great Bend branch of Farmers Bank and Trust until he retired in 2009. He passed away on March 16, 2023.
The bank also has continued its Light Up a Child’s Christmas program, with a tree that has name tags representing children in the community in need of gifts, for 32 years. The poinsettias that adorned the bank for the coffee are being donated to local churches for their Christmas programs, Rugan said.
Also mentioned was Yvonne Robbins, wife of the late W.R. Robbins, former corporate president and CEO of the bank. Yvonne passed away in February of 2022. She was a strong advocate of the annual charity giveaway program. “Personally, she’s given over $28,000 to these organizations,” Rugan said. “We’re going to continue her philanthropic spirit this year as well and by increasing some of these gifts.” The gifts that were previously $50 were doubled to a $100 minimum for every organization.
The remaining organizations also received $100 each. They were: Barton County Emergency Aid, Barton County Young Men’s Organization, Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, Dominican Sisters, ElderCare Inc., Great Bend Senior Center, Heartland Center for Spirituality, Housing Opportunities Inc., Kansas 4 Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation, Live Like Jesus Today Ministries, Prodigal Ministries of Kansas Inc., Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America, Rosewood Services Roots & Wings Foundation, Saint Francis Ministries, Sunflower Diversified Services Inc., USD 428 Foundation and Volunteers in Action/RSVP.
