West Shore Bank raises over $11,000 for holiday meals

submitted photo

LUDINGTON — West Shore Bank, in partnership with Shop-N-Save in Ludington, Hansen Foods in Hart and Oleson’s Foods in Manistee, will be distributing 909 meals to food banks in Mason, Manistee and Oceana counties as a result of the recent Spirit of Giving fundraising efforts. Money raised this year is more than double from last year.

Representatives from area charities gathered Monday for a luncheon at the bank’s main office in Ludington.

For three weeks West Shore Bank collected funds from Mason, Oceana and Manistee employees, residents and businesses. Arrangements were made and coordinated with each partner to purchase a complete meal at a special pre-determined price.

“The bank staff and I truly appreciate the individuals and businesses that support this cause,” said Raymond Biggs, president and CEO of West Shore Bank. “Helping those struggling in our own community during the holiday season is what makes this Spirit of Giving so important. We’re committed to finding ways we can make a difference in our local communities and providing a meal at Christmas is one way we can do that.”

This year an anonymous donor from Mason County provided a donation enabling the number of meals in Mason County to be tripled from last year. A total of $11,397 was raised, which included a $2,000 match from the bank.