Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357 (w); 804-443-2703 (h)
Fax: 804-443-6781

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southside Bank / St. Margaret's Coat Drive Spreads the Spirit of Giving

Southside Bank and St. Margaret's School (SMS) joined forces recently in a community coat drive which donated an estimated 175 - 200 winter coats for local citizens in need.

Both Southside Bank and SMS place a strong emphasis on giving back to the local community. Southside Bank works with social services and participates in events throughout the year; SMS, through its community service program, requires its students to give a minimum of 12 hours of service to the community each school year.

SMS senior Hillary Pugh (pictured left) and Southside Bank administrative assistant, Dale Mitchell (right), hold a few of the 175-200 coats raised for a recent coat drive event held at Southside Bank - Photo by Stephanie Collins.

SMS senior Hillary Pugh was an integral part of the coat drive at SMS. Southside Bank administrative assistant Dale Mitchell played an equally vital role, helping to encourage Southside Bank patrons to donate to this special cause. On Thursday, December 17th, Viann Farmer, SMS academic coordinator and teacher, and Pugh, SMS student community service representative, walked across route 17 and donated 75 coats on behalf of SMS. Southside Bank added its pool of coats; a combined 175 - 200 coats were donated to the Salvation Army for distribution to underprivileged families in Essex county.

"This year's coat drive was a huge success" comments Pugh. "If even in just a small way, we at St. Margaret's along with our friends at Southside Bank hope the spirit of giving will be spread around a little more."

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