Greenfield Cooperative Bank is deepening its local impact through “Co-op ROOTS,” a new initiative that incentivizes employees to volunteer across western Massachusetts.
“We’re a community bank. We want to be present in the community and support the organizations that are helping meet the needs of the community,” said Samantha Tefft, strategic planning associate at the bank, and the creator of the program.
Debuted in January, the program has already established partnerships with organizations across Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties, collaborating with groups such as Franklin County Community Meals Program, Stone Soup Cafe, Rachel’s Table, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
The program will be organizing four volunteer events per county throughout the year. Employees are also allotted eight hours of paid volunteer time annually to support a nonprofit of their choice during the workday. Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) will also make a quarterly donation to an organization of a selected employee’s choosing, with entry based on involvement per volunteer event.
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Tefft explained that spearheading Co-op ROOTS was a very significant project for her, saying she was “grateful for [the] opportunity to be able to stretch my wings a little bit.” She highlighted that the program is reflective of the values of GCB.
“We’re rooted in our communities that we serve, and these are the values that we are trying to stand behind, because we are responsible for serving the community, and there’s lots of opportunity for employees to extend their reach in the communities,” said Tefft.
So far, the bank has held an event in early January with USO New England making Valentine’s Day care packages. They also attended the Women’s Way “Supper for Six,” annual food drive hosted by the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region.
Nancy Boyle from the Franklin County Community Meals Program said that the help from GCB at the Supper for Six event was “wonderful,” and that “our people here really appreciate that.”
“[The] Co-op has been just an enormous partnership for us, just a solid group that we rely on for a lot of assistance,” Boyle said.
Cara Michelle Silverberg, director of program strategy at Springfield-based nonprofit food rescue organization Rachel’s Table, reminisced about some of the work that GCB and Rachel’s Table have done together. She looks forward to continuing the partnership as the program progresses.
“We’re going to keep learning together how to deepen and be most effective, and what kinds of volunteer engagement and services really make that relationship blossom,” said Silverberg.
This year, Co-op ROOTS has a goal of 25% program engagement — a goal that would see a quarter of the bank’s employees “volunteer at least once” by December, according to Tefft.
In addition to group events, GCB incentivizes individual service. At the end of the year, the GCB employee with the most volunteer hours logged will be awarded the “COOP-teer” of the year.
The name Co-op ROOTS is derived from the acronym Responsibility, Opportunity, Outreach, Teamwork and Service. Tefft explained that this opportunity goes beyond just volunteering. It is a great way for employees to get involved directly in the community, and make connections.
“It’s a great opportunity for employees to get out into the community, and talk to new people they haven’t met before, and develop their communication skills more,” she said. “I think there’s a personal growth for them as well through this opportunity.”