Westfield Community Bank employees pay money to have dress down days. At the end of the year, the branch uses those funds to buy gifts for a local family through the Angel Tree drive. This year the team supported a local family with five children. Submitted photo

The holiday season often means spending extra time with family and friends and enjoying delicious meals with loved ones.

It’s also the perfect time to focus on gratitude and giving.

Community Bank N.A. branches are getting in the festive spirit by giving back to the communities they serve to ensure all families have a happy holiday season.

In total, more than 70 Community Bank branches are celebrating the holidays by lending a hand to their neighbors. Each branch team selected a local cause to support based on its community’s needs. From hosting food, clothing and toy drives to fundraising initiatives, Community Bank branches want to make the world a brighter place this holiday season.

“Giving back to our communities during the holidays is our favorite tradition,” said Lisa Allenson, Community Bank district manager. “The true spirit of the holidays comes from helping those in need. Our branches will be bustling this December to help make a difference! We encourage everyone to get involved.”

Community Bank invites its neighbors and the community to consider supporting or learning more about one of the many causes the bank is involved with this holiday season.

Specific local activities include:

¯ Westfield partnering with Union Relief to buy presents for a local family in need. The branch will conduct dress down days to raise money for the gifts. This is a tradition the branch participates in every year.

¯ Ripley is participating in town of Ripley Christmas, an entire day of holiday cheer for community members to enjoy. The branch will host a Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt through the town where children will collect a different colored candy cane at each stop.

¯ Salamanca has a tree in its lobby as part of the Pay it Forward campaign to collect toy and clothing for local families in need. In addition, the branch donated turkeys to the Community Action Thanksgiving Day food drive.

¯ Jamestown North Main Street is participating in the Blue Star Mothers Care Package Collection. Branch team members and customers will contribute personal care items to be sent to United States service members serving overseas during the holidays. In addition, branch team members will volunteer to ring the bell for Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign and adopt a family though the organization’s Angel Tree program.

Visit a local Community Bank branch to learn how to help those in need this holiday season.