First Savings recently donated $1,000 to the Pennridge Middle School Micro-Loan Program.

First Savings has become the lead sponsor of the Pennridge School District Middle School Micro-Loan program.  A contribution of $1000 was recently presented by Todd Hurley, First Savings EVP and Chief Retail Officer to the school in order to jump start the program that is geared to establish a sense of pride in volunteering as well as helping disadvantaged children in neighboring communities as well as throughout the world. 

More details of the Micro-Loan program are included in a recent article in the Doylestown Intelligencer:  http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/the_intelligencer/the_intelligencer_news_details/article/27/2010/december/30/small-loans-big-goals-for-students.html

Don’t forget our troops this holiday season! First Savings is embarking on its 7^th year of providing Soldier Comfort Kits to our troops serving overseas. Over 300 large Holiday care packages have been sent to our brave Protectors of Freedom since the program started, and those receiving them have greatly appreciated the efforts! First Savings invites the community to get involved by donating much needed items for our troops. 

Some of the packages that were shipped last year to our troops serving overseas

  Items can be dropped off at any one of the bank’s offices located in Central and Upper Bucks County through December 4 and the bank will send the items to our men and women serving overseas so they receive them before the holidays.

First Savings is also accepting the complete names and addresses of any soldiers who are serving our country overseas, to be included in the distribution. “Please help us in remembering those who are helping protecting us this holiday season! Let’s show them that we care!”

Suggested items needed by our troops serving overseas include:

• Snacks (beef jerky, candy, gum, trail mix)
• Breakfast-type foods
• Canned soups, tuna, Chef Boyardee w/ flip-open tops
• Snack bags of chips, nuts, pretzels
• Powdered drinks–pre-sweetened packets
• Hard candy–no chocolate, please
• AA Batteries
• Baby wipes/Hand sanitizers–travel size
• Disp. Razors/Shaving gel–no aerosol!!
• Shampoo/Shower Gel–16 oz or less
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste
• Sunscreen/Bug repellent
• Eye drops
• Lip balm
• Playing cards
• Paperback books
• Crossword puzzles, Sudoku
• Mini-footballs, Frisbees
• Hand-held games
• Stationery/Mechanical pencils
• No aerosol cans, please!

The James A. Michener Art Museum is holding its annual celebration of art and giving with a selection of work created by students from the Michener Art Museum’s cornerstone intergenerational program, “Learning to Look and Listen.”  The 2010 Children’s Gallery Exhibition will run November 14 through December 5.  At the close of the exhibition all works will be gift wrapped and delivered to Trinity Episcopal Church to be distributed to area residents who are affected by HIV/AIDS.

First Savings is the Lead Sponsor for the 2010-2011 Children’s Gallery which will feature three separate exhibitions beginning in November, and continuing in February and June.  The Michener Museum is located at 138 Pine Street, Doylestown.  More information can be found on their website, www.MichenerArt Museum.org.