April is #NationalVolunteerismMonth and Melanie Dressel Community Commitment Month, Columbia Bank’s month-long celebration of volunteerism and giving back to our community with a variety of volunteer projects throughout the Northwest. In 2017, we memorialized our late CEO with a day of volunteerism in her name, the Melanie Dressel Community Commitment Day. Due to the overwhelming success of our inaugural Community Commitment Day, we expanded the celebration to an entire week in 2018 and 2019 and now we are excited to extend this celebration throughout the month of April. During this annual celebration of Melanie’s legacy, we encourage our employees along with their friends and families to support the causes they are passionate about with volunteer activities throughout the month. Since 2017, our employees have used this annual celebration to support over 231 volunteer projects across the Northwest contributing more than 7,537 volunteer hours.

While this year continues to look a little different than years past, many organizations need our support now more than ever before. Most organizations now offer safe ways to accommodate volunteers ensuring there is social distancing, enhanced safety measures and in some cases even offer virtual volunteer events. In this post, we’re highlighting just a few of the volunteer opportunities that our bankers are going to be supporting this month and how you can get involved.

Financial Beginnings

Financial Beginnings is a 501c(3) that helps provide financial education and helps individuals learn how to take an active role in their financial well-being. Many of our bankers are certified to teach through financial beginnings and volunteer throughout the year to help spread financial literacy through personal finance. This April our bankers will be volunteering with Financial Beginnings through online teaching and a virtual speaker series. To learn more about how you can get involved with Financial Beginnings visit: https://finbegor.org/volunteer-sign-up/ 

Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement is an organization focused on bringing economic empowerment to youth across America through education. This April our bankers will be volunteering with local Northwest chapters of Junior Achievement by participating in a career speaker series and subject matter expert series where they can share their expertise with local youth. To learn more about volunteering or supporting your local Junior Achievement visit: https://jausa.ja.org/volunteer/index

Store to Door 

Store to Door is an organization based in Portland, Oregon with a mission to help local senior citizens or adults with disabilities by offering affordable and volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery. This April, our bankers are helping Store to Door deliver with a smile by making handmade cards for their clients. To learn more about volunteering with Store to Door visit: https://storetodooroforegon.org/volunteer/  

FOOD for Lane County Youth Farm

The FOOD for Lane County (FFLC) Youth Farm in Eugene, Oregon is a five-acre urban educational farm and a work experience site for youth. Each year, community volunteers assist staff in growing over 100,000 pounds of organic produce, learning while growing. Each summer, a crew of teens works at the farm where they receive job skills and training in gardening, leadership, financial management and nutrition while growing food for FFLC and for a 100+ member Community Supported Agriculture Program and two produce stands. This April a group of our bankers will be supporting the Youth Farm by volunteering to help with weeding, planting and other yard work. To learn how you can volunteer or support the FOOD for Lane County Youth Farm visit: https://foodforlanecounty.org/volunteer/

Priest River Food Drive for Bonner Community Food Bank

The Bonner Community Food Bank is committed to fighting hunger in Bonner County and providing food to those in need. This April our bankers will be supporting a healthy food drive for their Priest River Food Bank location. This food drive is focused on gathering donations of healthy food staples to help families in need in Priest River maintain a healthier diet. For more info on this food drive and other ways to support the Bonner Community Food Bank visit: http://foodbank83864.com/about/

These are only a small handful of the volunteer events and organizations our bankers will be supporting throughout #NationalVolunteerismMonth and Melanie Dressel Community Commitment Month this April. Check back throughout the month, and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for weekly updates on these volunteer projects and more as we celebrate with volunteerism all month long.

If you’re looking for ways to get involved this Spring, and beyond, we encourage you to explore some of the organizations that are making an impact in your community and show them your support - happy volunteering!