Giving back builds team morale, helps the community and creates a positive impact. Promo Marketing spoke to Bill Banks, director of technology for Attachmentville, Fleetwood, Pa., to learn about the company’s charity work—specifically its involvement with the Greater Berks Food Bank and how Attachmentville uses its customizable lanyards to benefit local charities.
Promo Marketing: What’s one charity your company is involved in? Could you briefly describe it?
Bill Banks: We support the Greater Berks Food Bank (GBFB). Our employees volunteer monthly to sort through loose donations and pack nonperishable food donations into boxes for GBFB’s member agencies and food pantries. Also, each month we create a lanyard honoring a different (mostly local) charity. All proceeds from the sales of these lanyards go to the charity/organization of the month. (April was Unending Promise, March was Greater Berks Food Bank, February was Olivet Boys & Girls Club, January was Miller-Keystone Blood Center, December was Toys for Tots, November was Shave to Save–No Shave November, October was Susan G. Komen, etc.)
PM: Why did you and your company choose to give back in general?
BB: Our company motto is “We care.” Not only do we care about making a quality product, providing customer satisfaction and keeping our customers happy, [but also] we care about our employees and the communities where our employees (and families) live, work and play. [We] feel it is important that we support local charities for the health and happiness of these communities.
PM: Why did you and your company pick this particular cause?
BB: We found that we had quite a few of our employees participating with local food pantries (which are member agencies supported by the Greater Berks Food Bank), so we decided to combine our efforts company-wide in volunteering at the GBFB. Our employees also choose the monthly spotlight charity. Some of the charities are branches of a national program, while others are small local programs that may be near and dear to an employee or extended IRIS [Attachmentville’s parent company] family member.
PM: What do you like about working for this particular cause?
BB: No one should go hungry. The GBFB has a volunteer program that works with all of our employee schedules and skill levels.
PM: What part do promotional products play in your work with this cause?
BB: Our main production at our Pennsylvania facility is custom- printed lanyards. We have often donated lanyards and ID card attachments for charitable causes (like Kids in Need Foundation).
PM: Do you have any advice to give to others looking to get involved in this cause? What about those attempting charitable works in general?
BB: Any opportunity to serve is a bonus to all involved. Never be afraid to just push up your sleeves and lend a hand.
PM: How can readers get involved with or contribute to the Greater Berks Food Bank or food banks in their area?
BB: To help with the GBFB, just visit www.berksfoodbank.org to find out how to donate food, money or time. There also [are] great food bank opportunities in every community that are in dire need of time and talents.
For inquiries and interest in Attachmentville’s charity work, please contact Bill Banks at [email protected].
Want to be considered for a future edition of Community Spotlight? Contact production editor Ashley Chiaradio at (215) 238-5288 or [email protected] for a list of questions and other details.
