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Citizens National Bank President and CEO David Conrad surrounded by sweaters and hoodies collected at the bank's branches.


"We were sitting at the meeting and the idea just came to me," said Josh Peach, Citizens National Bank Putnam branch manager.
And luckily for hundreds of children who might go cold, the idea that came to him was for the bank to collect hoodies and sweaters for children who needed them.
The bank's Comfort and Joy Sweater campaign, in its first year, collected almost 350 sweaters and hoodies and the stacks and stacks of outerwear are already headed to 11 local schools.
Previously, at holiday time the bank has collected food and last year, pajamas. To mix it up a bit, bank staff brainstormed and Peach's idea was the one they went with.
Bank officials said 338 pieces of outerwear were collected between Dec. 5 and Dec. 17 at all branches of the bank.
Eleven schools, including Putnam, Woodstock, Thompson, Brooklyn's elementary and middle schools, as well as Killingly's two elementaries and its middle school benefitted. The Putnam Family Resource Center also benefitted, taking some clothing dropped off for younger children.
Bank officials also said more than $1,160 was collected in monetary donations.
David Conrad, president and CEO of the bank, said it was a "tremendous success."
In keeping with the "warm" theme, the winners of the four $250 home heating vouchers are: Diana Mead, Jo-Anne Joslin, Bob Romprey and Alison Wilburn.

 

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