Thirty-six local charities received cash donations Wednesday when Farmers Bank and Trust held its 28th annual charity coffee, giving away $5,500.
The bank, which started in Albert, has existed for 117 years and during this giving program it has donated $147,000, said Robert Rugan, marketing president.
“We’re the last chartered bank in Great Bend,” he said.
Stressing the bank’s commitment to the community, Rugan said employees who participate in voluntary payroll deductions gave $3,000 to United Way of Central Kansas and do a lot of volunteer work. The poinsettias that decorated the bank will go to local churches. Rugan also took a moment to recognize any veterans in attendance.
Chelsea Kaundart is in charge of the Light Up a Child’s Christmas Tree, making Christmas brighter for children in need and their families. There are still a few names on the tree if anyone wants to stop in at the bank’s 1017 Harrison St. Location. Gifts need to be back at the bank by Dec. 11.
Also mentioned was Yvonne Robbins, wife of the late W.R. Robbins, former corporate president and CEO of the bank. She passed away in 2022 after years of personally giving thousands of dollars to the organizations. She left a lasting gift so the minimum gift each charity received Wednesday was doubled from $50 to $100.
A drawing determined the top financial winners. A group had to have a representative at the coffee to win the prize:
• $500 was awarded to the Golden Belt Humane Society
• $400 to Prairie Godmothers
• $300 to Central Kansas Association for the Visually Impaired
The group that brought the most people to the coffee was awarded $200. The winner was Central Kansas Partnership, with 22 representatives.
The drawings continued with the next three groups, Heartland Center for Spirituality, Family Crisis Center and the USD 428 Foundation each receiving $200.
The next 10 each received $150: Lasting Life Ministries, Prodigal Ministries of Kansas, United Way of Central Kansas, Central Kansas CASA, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice, St. Francis Ministries, Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, Barton Arts Movement, Barton County Young Men’s Organization and Housing Opportunities Inc.
The rest each received $100: Barton County Emergency Aid, Barton County Youth Care Inc., The Center for Counseling & Consultation, Central Kansas Dream Center, Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, Community Food Bank of Barton County Inc., Dominican Sisters, ElderCare Inc., Great Bend Senior Center, DARE - Great Bend Police Department, Kans 4 Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation, Kansas Children’s Service League, Live Like Jesus Today Ministries, Meals on Wheels of Barton County, Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America, Rosewood Services Roots & Wings Foundation, Salvation Army, Sunflower Diversified Services Inc. and Volunteers in Action/RSVP.
