Brook Merritt, Executive Vice President of the Bank of Star Valley, stepped into the SVI Radio studio on Monday, December 8 to promote the annual Feed the Angels and Angel Tree programs.

(0:00) Joining me live in studio this morning is Brooke Merritt. Brooke is the executive vice president (0:05) with the Bank of Star Valley in studio today to talk about the Feed the Angel and the Angel (0:10) Tree program hosted every year by the Bank of Star Valley. Brooke, good morning.

How are you today? (0:15) I’m great. Thanks for having me. (0:17) Absolutely appreciate you coming in every year to talk about these two (0:19) really cool programs.

Let’s start with the Feed the Angels food drive that was going on (0:24) right now. Tell us how this is working again this year. (0:26) Thank you.

Yeah, this is our 12th year of doing this food drive and so what we’re doing is people (0:32) can donate monetary donations at any Bank of Star Valley branch and or you can go to a Brolam’s (0:38) location and donate food or bring that into the branches as well and we will make sure that gets (0:42) to the food banks. And then on top of the monetary donations, we have partnered this year with (0:48) Silver Star. We’re very thankful for them.

And between the bank and Silver Star, we will match (0:53) to $7,000 of donations and we’re getting pretty close to that limit, but we’re not quite there (0:59) yet. And we would love to make sure that the three food banks get the $14,000 to help them get (1:05) through the winter and with the government shutdown, they got hit really hard in November. (1:11) And so we’re just trying to help them restock those shelves and make sure that nobody goes (1:15) hungry this winter.

Now, the bank has always offered the match, but you said this is the (1:20) first time you partnered with Silver Star on this $7,000 goes a long, long way. And so, (1:26) of course, then you match that make it 14. I mean, that’s a pretty significant amount.

So (1:31) what are the deadlines for people to either donate cash or food? (1:36) So we’re going through next Monday, December 15. So if you want to do the donations, (1:40) please get it done before then. And that way we can make sure we have the time to get the money (1:45) to the food banks and if they need to order it, you know, before Christmas or if it’s something (1:49) they need after the Christmas, we just want to make sure that they have it so that nobody goes (1:53) hungry and and it will be split equally amongst the three food banks here in the valley.

And (1:59) they’re in dire needs. (2:00) Absolutely. So again, you can make those donations through December 15.

That’s this (2:04) upcoming Monday at any Brolin’s or Bank of Star Valley location for Feed the Angels. (2:10) Anything else on Feed the Angels we missed Brooke? (2:12) No, I think that’s it. Just if you’re thinking about doing something, (2:15) this is a great way to double your money.

(2:17) Absolutely. So that program continues for the next week through December 15. And Brooke Merritt (2:23) in studio this morning with the Bank of Star Valley.

And of course, you always do (2:26) the Angel Tree program as well. Tell us how things have gone so far this year with this. (2:32) So the Angel Tree program is something the bank has done for the last 30 years.

(2:36) And every year we begin November 1, start taking Angel Tree applications for any, you know, (2:42) families that are in need and know that they’re going to need a little extra help this this (2:46) Christmas season. Now, the deadline to get on the Angel Tree has come and gone. And so that’s (2:52) that ends the Friday after Thanksgiving every year.

So I just want to make sure that people (2:56) remember that. But this year we have 189 angels on our Angel Tree. And if somebody wants to adopt (3:03) one, they can go to our website and there’s a bright red banner at the top you can click on (3:07) and it shows you the angels.

Now, luckily, we’ve been doing this for, you know, the last month, (3:12) and we only have one angel left. So we’re really hoping that somebody will adopt this child, (3:19) and we can make sure that they have a good Christmas. For those of you that don’t like (3:24) to shop and you’re like, I want to help, but I don’t want to do any of that.

You can donate money (3:29) to any Bank of Star Valley branch, and we will do the shopping for you. I have a lot of ladies (3:33) that like to shop. Reluctantly, right? Yes, they have to.

Yes. So that’s always a great way to donate. (3:40) And then there’s also a lot of people like the library this year, the Star Valley branch library, (3:45) they’re doing a book and toy drive.

And so you can just buy, you know, books or toys, (3:50) you can drop it off there, you can drop it off at the bank. They are doing that to help us (3:54) supplement any Christmas stuff. That way, you know, we make sure every child gets plenty and (3:59) has a wonderful Christmas.

That’s really incredible that you had over 100 angels this year. (4:03) And as of today, as of right now, just one left to be adopted. It really just speaks to (4:08) the generosity of the community.

I’m sure you see that every year you do this. (4:12) Oh, I’m I’m always amazed at the generosity of the people of this valley. There are such (4:16) good people that want to take care of their neighbors.

And they just want to make sure that, (4:20) you know, people feel loved and that they’re not alone at Christmastime. And this is a great way (4:25) to do that. For those of you that have adopted an angel, just a quick reminder, I need all those (4:30) gifts back to the bank by next Wednesday, the 17th.

And then the gift pickup will be on the (4:37) 20th of December down at the fairgrounds. And so that’s always a pretty amazing (4:42) display of gifts when we get it all organized and sorted through. (4:46) That’s very cool.

Brooke Merritt with the Bank of Star Valley. And again, (4:49) the angel tree adoption going on now. You can find details at BOSV.com (4:53) and need those back no later than the 17th of December.

Brooke, this program, of course, (4:59) is all anonymous and everything like that with the angels that are adopted. But maybe you could (5:04) share if there’s an experience or maybe just generally explain what this program has meant (5:11) to you and the staff at the Bank of Star Valley as you put it together over these last handful of (5:15) years. You know, yeah, it is definitely anonymous.

There’s only actually a couple of us at the bank (5:20) that ever even sees the list, right? Because even most of our employees don’t know. But it’s amazing (5:26) every year when we’re handing out gifts, there will be someone that’ll come in. And I mean, (5:31) they will be brought to tears because it’s just been such a rough year or they’re going through (5:35) something really hard.

And just the generosity of the people of this valley, you know, taking (5:41) care of them. And actually, last year, I had someone come in and adopt an angel at the bank. (5:47) And she told me, she goes, you know, a few years ago, I was on this list because we had a cancer (5:53) situation in their family and just didn’t have the money for Christmas.

And then she’s like, (5:58) we have got past that now and they were in a much better financial place. And so (6:02) she was going to give back. And it just really is awesome to be able to help people.

I mean, (6:08) it’s a great way to get that Christmas spirit feeling in your heart, you know, and it’s a great (6:12) way to get your families involved. You know, how fun is it to take your kids to go buy gifts for (6:16) somebody else? Absolutely. So, and again, if this final angel is adopted and you still want to (6:21) participate, then you’ll always take those cash donations, right? Yes, we will.

We always make (6:26) sure that everybody’s taken care of and we try to make sure everything’s pretty equal, you know, (6:31) for families with multiple children. And so, yeah, we will take cash donations or if you’re out (6:36) shopping and you just see some toy that looks super fun, feel free to buy it and drop it off (6:40) at the bank and we’ll make sure it goes to an age appropriate child. That’s Brooke Merritt (6:44) with the Bank of Star Valley.

Feed the Angels and Adopt an Angel programs continue this year. (6:49) Brooke, thank you so much for putting this on for the community. Really appreciate it.

Thank you (6:53) for joining us. We’ll see you next time on SVI Radio.