Freedom Volunteers at Pirate Fest

Staff Volunteer in Havre de Grace

Havre de Grace Pirate Fest 5k volunteers — **Pirate Fest 5k volunteers, L to R, Jeff Herman, Kristi Kelly, Janis Motichka**

Freedom staff volunteers spent the weekend helping out at the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House’s Pirate Fest in Havre de Grace. Festival activities included a 5k run, a pirate encampment, kids’ activities and food.

Janis Motichka, VP of Accounting, Kristi Kelly, Electronic Services, and Jeff Herman, Business Banking, covered the 5K race in the morning. Later in the day Marcus Johnson and Jen Davenport from our Swan Creek branch and Heather Theisen, Loan Program, Dominique Beverly, Indirect Lending, and Anthony Allen, IT, handled the games at the afternoon’s Pirate Encampment. The weather was beautiful and the staff were happy to lend a hand.

**Pirate Fest pirate encampment volunteers, L to R: Heather Theisen and daughter, Anthony Allen, Jen Davenport, Dominique Beverly and Marcus Johnson**

Going Green in Bel Air

Freedom Staff Contribute to Arbor Day Efforts

Freedom staff at Department of Natural Resources tree planting event, Arbor Day 2017 — **From L to R, Rachel Schmidt, Holly Downey, Susan Tannahill, Michele Young, Sharon Mellor, and Mike MacPherson**

Freedom staff pitched in this Arbor Day, planting trees as part of our continuing effort to better our community. The Department of Natural Resources Arbor Day event allowed us to help plant the trees and shrubs that earned Bel Air the “Tree City” designation.

Two hundred of the trees planted on April 14 were donated by Freedom as a result of our “go green” electronic statement campaign of 2016. We donated trees to the DNR on behalf of those members who eliminated paper waste by going electronic. Rather than plant many saplings, we decided to plant fewer, larger trees to increase the odds that they survive and thrive.

Rachel Schmidt_Arbor Day 2017 — **Rachel Schmidt wrapping a sapling in protective mesh**

Rows of planted trees_Arbor Day 2017 — **Rows of saplings planted during the Arbor Day event**

Standing-group-shot-Arbor-Day-2017_resized_web — **Freedom staff pitch in to mulch around a newly planted tree**

Stuffing Stockings on a Rainy Night

Staff Fill Stockings for the Empty Stocking Fund

esf-volunteers-12-6-16 — **(L to R) Pictured are Freedom volunteers Alicia Bowman, Susan Tannahill, Julie Irby (seated), Kelly Berends, Dominique Beverly and Tabitha Becker with her sons Robby and Riley.**

A group of Freedom employees and their children spent Tuesday night helping the Empty Stocking Fund pull together Christmas gifts for needy children. The Empty Stocking Fund (ESF) collects new, unwrapped toys for distribution to local children who would otherwise go without. Additionally, ESF collects food goods and monetary donations for local families in need. Collection begins several months before the holidays. Freedom has supported the ESF with collection efforts at all branches for many years now.

Pulling together the “stockings” is a fun process. In a warehouse full of collected goods, volunteers select a variety of toys, games, clothing, books, grooming supplies and other gifts appropriate for each individual child. It’s a wonderful way to spread the joy of the season.

A large collection of items that we’ve collected this year will be picked up for the Empty Stocking Fund today, replenishing the supply of goodies for distribution. Thanks to the members and staff who contributed supplies or funds to the effort!