Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Donates More Than $21,000 to Seven Nonprofit Organizations through Its Employee-Driven Charitable Giving Program

Bar Harbor, Maine (February 28, 2023) - Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees recently presented more than $21,000 in donations to seven nonprofit organizations serving Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont residents. The recipients of the donations are: Brandon Area Rescue Squad (Vermont); David’s House (New Hampshire); Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers Maine (Maine); Island Nursing Home (Maine); Midcoast Habitat for Humanity (Maine); Mount Desert Nursing Association (Maine); and Pittsford First Response Squad (Vermont).

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees contributed the donations through the Bank’s employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. Participating employees dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected during each quarter. The employees then vote on which nonprofits will receive their contributions. Employees have donated more than $200,000 since the program begin in 2018.

“Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s Casual for a Cause program and the generosity of our employees have led to more than $200,000 being donated to 104 nonprofit organizations throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont,” said Jack Frost, VP Director of Community Giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “This program is proof that good things happen when we work together.”

Recipients of Q4 2022 Donations

Maine

Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers Maine is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create successful homeownership opportunities for families with limited incomes by building sustainable housing, and repairing, weatherizing and modifying existing homes. The organization serves Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties and the towns of Brunswick and Harpswell, Maine. Learn more at www.habitat7rivers.org.

“Construction of a new Habitat home in 2012 cost about $85,000,” Adam Lacher, Executive Director of Habitat 7 Rivers Maine. “Today, building that same modest home costs roughly $225,000 for materials and professional services alone. That’s a 165% increase in costs in just 10 years’ time. An impossible increase, right? No. When we receive vital funds from organizations like Bar Harbor Bank & Trust we ensure local families have the opportunity to own a decent place to live for years to come without jeopardizing their hard earned finances. Organizations like Bar Harbor Bank & Trust are the reason Habitat can do the impossible.”

Island Nursing Home is a nonprofit facility committed to providing the highest level of innovative and quality healthcare to an aging population while maintaining community relationships and honoring our core values of care, compassion, and service. Learn more at www.islandnursinghome.org.

“We are all so grateful to the employees and Bar Harbor Bank & Trust for their generous contribution,” said Skip Greenlaw, Treasurer of the Island Nursing Home Board of Directors. “All donations we currently receive will pay for reopening costs, such as food and medical supplies, minor repairs to the facility, and most importantly to pay the anticipated deficits which we think will occur because of lack of State funding.”

Midcoast Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring people together to build hope, homes, and community and end poverty housing in Knox County, Maine. Through partnerships with individuals, local companies, civic organizations, and government, the organization builds and preserves safe, affordable housing and homeownership opportunities to low-moderate income residents. Learn more at www.midcoasthabitat.org.

“Midcoast Habitat values our community and the support we receive from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust,” said Tia Anderson, Executive Director of Midcoast Habitat for Humanity. “These funds will go directly to our program of developing affordable housing and offering the opportunity for Knox County residents to establish strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. We rely on our donors and volunteers to fulfill our mission and we are grateful for both.”

Mount Desert Nursing Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health, safety, and independence of Mount Desert Island residents and those of neighboring towns through the delivery of high quality and compassionate skilled nursing and other in-home healthcare services, advocacy, education, and prevention programs. Learn more at www.mountdesertnursing.org.

“The funds donated from the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Casual for a Cause program will help us at the Mount Desert Nursing Association continue to deliver care to our island and neighboring town community members,” said Amy McVety, Executive Director of Mount Desert Nursing Association. “The amount donated is a little more than the equivalent of payment for one (1) patient for one month of care and can also help to supplement some of our private pay patients who are not able to fully compensate us.”

New Hampshire

David’s House is a nonprofit organization that provides a home-away-from-home and support for families with children receiving treatment through Dartmouth Health Children’s. David’s House is the dream of a little boy named David Cyr who passed away at age five after a three-and-a-half-year struggle against acute lymphatic leukemia. Learn more at www.davids-house.org.

“David’s House is truly grateful for the generosity and kindness shown by the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust team,” said Don Dutton, Interim Executive Director of David’s House. “We could not provide our needed services without caring partners such as you. On behalf of all the families who need our support while their children are receiving medical treatment, thank you so much!”

Vermont

Brandon Area Rescue Squad provides essential emergency medical services for the towns of Brandon, Goshen, Leicester, and Sudbury. The Brandon Area Rescue Squad is licensed by the Vermont Department of Health at the Paramedic level, and in the past year alone, they responded to more than 600 calls for help. Brandon Rescue also offers several prevention and educational programs including CPR and first aid training. Learn more at www.brandonrescue.com.

“Emergency medical care requires ongoing personnel training and education, purchasing and maintaining equipment and supplies,” said William Dick, Treasurer of the Brandon Area Rescue Squad. “The Bank's generous donation will greatly help the Brandon Area Rescue Squad maintain their standard of excellence in providing pre-hospital emergency medical care to the area citizens.”

Pittsford First Response Squad is an all-volunteer group that provides essential emergency and medical services for the residents of Pittsford. The squad members aim to be the first on an emergency scene, provide some level of help to whoever needs it, and provide information to incoming ambulances, police or fire departments. Learn more at www.facebook.com/PittsfordVTFirstResponse.

“We are a small group of dedicated volunteers who give our time and services to our fellow community members and those who pass through it,” said Bob Foley, Operations Chief for Pittsford First Response Squad. “When we receive funds from the community, this ensures that we are able to continue to provide the best services possible by enabling us to update our equipment and participate in training. We rely on our donors and volunteers to fulfill our mission, and we are grateful for both. Organizations like Bar Harbor Bank & Trust are the reason this is possible.”

Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE American: BHB) is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. Operating over 50 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine and has more than $3.6 billion in assets. As a leading Northern New England community bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers a full range of personal and business banking services, as well as wealth management services through its subsidiary Bar Harbor Wealth Management. For more information about Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, visit www.barharbor.bank or call 888-853-7100. Member FDIC. 

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