Local banks joined forces for their annual Build A Bed team-building initiative, an inspiring example of collaboration and teamwork helping to build beds for children in our community and communities throughout Massachusetts. What began in 2022 as a shared goal to help make a difference in the lives of children developed into a friendly bed-building competition between Newburyport Bank and Institution for Savings.

With the recent merger of Newburyport Bank and Pentucket Bank forming River Run Bancorp MHC, the 2023 local Build A Bed team expanded, adding Pentucket Bank to the roster. The three local banks decided to work together, encouraging employees to create mixed teams to include employees from the other banks. The Build A Bed 2023 teams successfully built 30 beds in support of the mission to provide A Bed for Every Child.

There are many children in Massachusetts who don’t have the luxury of their own bed. They are sharing with siblings or parents and in some cases, children are sleeping on couches, air mattresses, floors and beds that they have outgrown or are broken. With sleep being an essential element to physical and mental health, the Build A Bed mission has been recognized by many as a critical necessity.

Bank employees kicked off the beautiful afternoon with lunch served by Michael’s Harborside giving bank employees a chance to say “hi” to friends and meet new ones as a warm-up for this amazing team-building activity. Executives from each of the three banks provided opening remarks: Mary Anne Clancy, Senior VP Marketing & Communications for Institution for Savings, Leanne Eastman, Senior VP Community & Public Relations Director for Pentucket Bank and Tim Felter, Senior Executive VP/CFO/CAO/Treasurer of Newburyport Bank. Wilson and Jeffrey, representatives from Massachusetts based nonprofit A Bed for Every Child, provided training for the 70 bank volunteers.

Instead of cars, the Newburyport Bank parking lot was filled with employees, materials and tools that volunteers used to build beds. It was inspiring to see the mixed teams; blue shirts representing Newburyport Bank/Pentucket Bank and the green shirts representing Institution for Savings. It was inspiring to watch businesses that could be categorized as friendly competitors unite for the greater good, putting competition aside and instead prioritizing the Build A Bed mission to help ensure that every child has a place to dream.