Celebrating You: Community Bank Month at Casey State Bank

April is Community Bank Month, and at Casey State Bank, we couldn’t be prouder to be your community bank! During Community Bank Month, community banks come together to express their gratitude to our loyal customers and give back to our communities.

At Casey State Bank, our customers are our top priority. You are why we take this tradition seriously. It’s because of you that we are able to engage in the Community Banking Month activities that let us stay true to our mission statement. We’re here to provide financial stability, trustworthiness, and opportunities for success within the areas we serve. We made a commitment to donate $250 to local non-profit organizations for every day in April, ensuring that at least one non-profit per Casey State Bank branch received our support.

We have a personal connection with some of these worthy causes, because our staff are community members too. We want to do whatever we can to assist our community and make it a better place for everyone. It is especially important during the ongoing pandemic recovery. We appreciate your loyalty and are eager to share more about our contributions to community banking!

Casey

1.) Senior Education Ministries

• Senior Education Ministries provides Dine with a Doc.  Dine with a Doc is a monthly educational program that allows senior citizens and veterans to get information from a doctor while enjoying a complimentary meal, having fun, and socializing with others.

2.) Clark County Optimist Club

• The Clark County Optimist Club sponsored or supported: shoes, BIGGER awards, oratorical contest, essay contest, drug poster contest, vocational scholarship, bicycle safety, breakfast with Santa, shoeboxes, hats & mittens, little league team, after prom, 8th grade dance, and childhood cancer.

3.) Casey-Westfield Tennis Team

• The Casey-Westfield High School boys tennis team is made up of 18 boys this year, six of which are seniors. The boys are coached by Sara Richardson. This donation will be used to buy much needed equipment and will be shared with the girls’ team. The girls’ team is coached by Natasha Young, and they play their season in the fall. The CWHS tennis program has a bright future with lots of talent!

4.) Casey-Westfield Band Boosters

• The Casey Westfield Band Boosters supports the Casey-Westfield Band with any additional expenses they may have.

5.) Casey Ministerial Alliance

• “The Casey Ministerial Association (C.M.A.) is a partnership of ministers representing Christian congregations in Casey, Illinois, who intend to impact our community for Christ.  We believe this can be accomplished by uniting our influence as we address specific concerns raised by C.M.A. members and our community and by uniting our resources to minister to the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of our city and the surrounding area.  We choose to live out the Bible verses of Matthew 25:24-40 – primarily through the Casey Food Pantry downtown that provides groceries to over 70 families a month, as well as our “Blessings-In-A-Backpack” program that provides groceries to over 65 students each week that school is in session.  In addition, we provide assistance for those in emergency situations with medicine payments, food vouchers, gas cards, and single night hotel rooms.  We also aid valuable non-profits, such as Monroe School’s snack/milk money fund, Peace Meal, and Choices Pregnancy Center.  We are currently working on upcoming joint services in the public sphere meant to build unity among our congregations and community leaders.“

6.) Choices Pregnancy & Health

• Choices Pregnancy & Health assists women/couples to understand their unplanned pregnancy options in a safe, confidential and compassionate environment.  They offer medically accurate information and provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support as the woman works through her circumstances and explores ways to find positive solutions to the problems.
• All of the services and programs of Choices Pregnancy & Health are provided free of any charge.  Funding comes solely from concerned individuals, churches, businesses, and philanthropic organizations in the area.  No support comes from government programs.  Soon a new Choices facility will open in Casey at 502 E. Delaware with twice the space of the current office.  An Open House will be announced soon so the community can come out and get acquainted in person.

7.) Casey-Westfield Youth Basketball

• The Casey-Westfield Youth Basketball Program will be utilizing the funds to purchase new basketballs.

8.) Casey Rotary

• The Casey Rotary Club meets every Tuesday from noon – 1 pm at Richard’s Farm. Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
• Rotary members believe that they have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to: Promote peace, Fight disease, provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, save mothers and children, support education, and grow local economies.

Lawrenceville

9.) Lawrence County Arts Council

• “For over 20 years, the Lawrence County Arts Council (LCAC) has worked to promote and provide artistic and creative experiences for the residents of Lawrence County and its surrounding areas.  These experiences include a Spring Musical, a Student Art Show (for county high school students), a Children’s Theater Workshop (for children/youth entering 3rd – 9th grades), a Photography Show for adults, and a Fall play.  LCAC looks forward to continuing to provide more opportunities to the community within its very own theater space in the upcoming years.”

10.) Fish & Loaves

• “Each week, Fish & Loaves serves over 250 Pre-K – High School children in Lawrence County. These children have been nominated for the program by their teachers and other school staff members because they are believed to leave school on Friday and not have any or much access to food over the weekend. School is their only stable source of nutrition, so Fish & Loaves works to ensure that each child in our program never has to wonder where their next meal will come from.
• We continue to hear stories from families, teachers, school administrators and staff, reminding us that this food, this basic provision, is making a difference in the lives of our children. Our hearts break to know this is such a great need, but we rejoice in the fact that, through people like you, we can meet that need.
• As we celebrate nearly 8 years of serving our kids, we continue to be amazed at the outpouring of support we’ve had from this community. Even through the difficulties we faced during Covid, we were able to continue battling food insecurity with the support, love, and dedication of this community. It inspires us. So, thank you again for your gift and support. You’re making a difference.”

11.) Lawrence County Humane Society

• The Lawrence County Humane Society was started in September of 1993.  They felt a need in the community for a place for unwanted and stray animals.  Through the 31 years, they have taken in hundreds of dogs and cats.  They have been able to find homes for the majority of dogs and cats who have come through their doors.  Some of the animals were sent to different animal rescues.  They are a no kill shelter.  Animals that aren’t adopted spend their lives at the Humane Society.  They are not state, city or county funded.  They rely on public donations to operate.  They have two pole barn sales a year to help with their expenses.

12.) The Delts

• Delta Theta Tau is a philanthropic non-profit sorority that all proceeds raised goes back to the children in our county for various things. They do eyeglasses, Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts, gas cards for medical travel, Scholarships, Easter Egg hunt, along with various other things. Their sorority has been helping children in Lawrence County since 1925.

13.) Friends of the Lawrence County Library

• The Friends of the Lawrence County Library is a non-profit volunteer organization that was organized in 1987 after the closing of the Texcao Refinery. The closing caused a dramatic and immediate 40% reduction in funding for the Lawrence County Public Library. Without the assistance of the Friends of the Library, many materials and programs would have had to be cut. The Friends have been particularly concerned with providing interesting, educational, and positive activities for the children of Lawrence County. The Friends have sponsored the Children’s Summer Reading Program for the children of Lawrence County for 35 years. All programs sponsored by the Friends of the Library are provided at no cost to the participants.
• The Friends actively promote the Library, raise funds, and assist at various programs. Community members donate books to the Friends throughout the year. These books are sold at their Annual Book Sale and Raffle, which is held during the Lawrenceville Fall Festival. The money raised at the book sale, the bookshelf in the Library’s front foyer, and other fund-raising events throughout the year is used to fund the Summer Reading Program, purchase materials, and provide other items the Library might need.
• The Friends of the Library are dedicated to helping the Library and the community of Lawrence County. You can help the Friends of the Library provide these services to the community by becoming a member. Yearly dues are $7 per individual or $10 per family. You can also help by donating gently used books for the sale and by supporting their fundraising efforts.

Marshall

14.) Marshall Schools Foundation

• The Marshall School Foundation is to help encourage those special experiences by providing funds to supplement educational programs and activities throughout the Marshall Community School District.

15.) Marshall Food Disbursement

• The food and clothing pantry is directed by Gilbert Wright and with the help of many volunteers. They provide food and clothing at little to no cost to Clark County residents in need. The pantry distributes approximately a quarter of a million in food, clothing, and household items a year. In addition to this, they also provide small scholarships to Marshall graduates, and clothing donations to local elementary schools as needed.

16.) Gaslight Art Colony

• Gaslight Art Colony is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to broadening an appreciation of the arts by providing opportunities that promote awareness, participation, and understanding through fine art exhibits.  They offer workshops, classes and scholarships.  They have members within a 50-mile radius of Marshall.

17.) MAYN

• MAYN sponsors lunch buddy mentoring, career mentoring, boys are cool, girls are powerful, and the Marshall Team Leadership.  MAYN has been making a difference in the lives of Marshall youth since 1994 and continues to have a positive influence on the community.

18.) Marshall Public Library

• Outside of the large selection of books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, puzzles, and the accessible computers, iPads, and scanner, the library also offers some free programs such as: Summer Reading Program, Tax Assistance, visits from authors, computer classes, preschool story times, and craft programs for adults and children.  The library also has a beautiful meeting room, complete with a kitchenette, and audiovisual equipment that community groups and businesses can reserve.

Martinsville

19.) Martinsville on the Move

• Martinsville on the Move is a group of community members that have been organized to support community development and activities. They strive to promote a positive community identity for Martinsville and the surrounding area.

20.) Martinsville Public Library

• Not only does the Martinsville Public Library provide basic library functions such as interlibrary loans, printing and faxing services, hotspots, free use of public computers, and free Wifi, but they also offer several programs like the homeschool program, book club, crafts nights, Rummikub, BINGO, and summer reading.  They are hoping to plan new and exciting programs in the future.  This donation will be used to purchase food and supplies for the kids who participate in this year’s summer program, Read, Renew, Repeat.

21.) Martinsville Food Pantry

• The Martinsville Food Pantry provides food to the Clark County residents every Thursday.  All that is required to receive food is a valid ID and proof of residency.

Mattoon

22.) Coles County Veterans Support Coalition

• The Veterans Support Coalition provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to current military members and veterans of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their families of Coles County Illinois, ensuring that they have the resources they need during their recovery and transition back to their communities.

23.) Mattoon Kiwanis

• Best known for Pancake Day and Peanut Day fundraisers, local Kiwanians can be found serving the kids of the community by sponsoring Builders Club and Key Club for students, for funding Read Across Mattoon, various youth programs, and college scholarships, and for building parks and playgrounds.

24.) Resurrection Point Ministries

• Resurrection Point Ministries mission statement is “leading men to Christ by discipleship and providing a safe and sober living environment”.  They provide a sober living facility for addicts or people who have recently been released from jail.

25.) Douglas Hart Foundation

• The Douglas Hart Nature Center is part of The Douglas Hart Foundation which maintains three properties: Douglas-Hart Nature Center, Friendship Garden, and The Whiteside Garden
• The nature center consists of 65 acres of native Illinois habitat and includes a visitor center with several amenities.  Trails are open daily, and the Nature Center offers various Youth and Adult Programs.

26.) Hope of East Central Illinois

• The mission of HOPE is to empower persons to live independent, non-violent lives through the provisions of housing, outreach, prevention, and education.  They serve seven rural counties in Illinois by providing women who have been victims of domestic violence housing and other various programs.

Robinson

27.) Lawrence Crawford Association for Exceptional Citizens

• “LCAEC supports individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities as they overcome challenges to become as independent as possible.  They provide basic supports such as advocacy, help with decision making, managing health issues, and healthy living awareness that creates more stability in the lives of their consumers. They invest in the human potential of every consumer that they serve by offering a wide variety of learning tools and activities for their benefit.
• They operate two Community Day Service facilities located in Lawrenceville and Robinson, IL. They also have a CILA residence where eight individuals live in Robinson, IL.
• They help sustain income for their consumers by providing them access to work in a supervised environment, either at their facilities or in the community. By earning a paycheck, their consumers are contributing to the economic health of the community as well as the daily wellbeing of themselves and their families.”

28.) Oblong Christian Children’s Home

• Oblong Children’s Christian Home, with homes in Oblong, is a ministry of the Christian Church and Churches of Christ to abused and troubled children who are 5 to 16 years old, providing them God’s unconditional love.

29.) NOW Program

• The NOW Program (Nutrition On Weekends), located at the First United Methodist Church in Robinson, IL, provides supplemental food to a specific number of students within the Robinson school district. 100% of the donations go to the food program. 

30.) Robinson High School Care Closet

• “The RHS Cares Program is designed to offer a Cares Closet that has toiletries, school supplies, and other items students may need from time to time. We hold a no questions policy. We also have funds available to help students who might not be able to provide for themselves various clothing items or other items they might need to attend a school function or work interview, etc. It is hard to put into words all the variety of ways the RHS Cares Program helps students. We have provided laundry detergent and washers to use at school. We have helped provide shower facilities and supplies. We have purchased PE clothing for students. We have helped students with field trip costs. We have provided sweats, leggings, t-shirts, sweatshirts, undergarments, and socks when emergencies arise during school. We have some food items for students when needed, too. These are just a few of the ways we have supported students.
• The RHS Cares Program tries to be a resource for students to assist them with basic needs in order for them to feel confident and positive at school.”

Without You, We Couldn’t Be Us!

As a community bank, we recognize and take pride in our responsibility to serve the needs of our customers and to contribute to the well-being of our region. We want our branches to be an integral part of our community, and we’re proud to contribute and give back however we can. We are always looking for new, innovative ways to meet your financial needs and help you develop your wealth and financial security. Whether that means providing expert advice on our blog or offering customized financial products and services that are tailored to your specific needs and goals, Casey State Bank is here for you. We don’t see our customers as just account holders or clients; you are so much more than that. Our customers are our neighbors, our friends, and our partners in building a stronger and more vibrant community.

We are honored to serve you, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the years to come. Thank you for being a part of the Casey State Bank community and for putting your trust in community banking.