Jun 21, 2024 5 min read

Supporting the community is at the heart of Community Bank.

“Our driving mission at Community Bank is to partner with individuals, businesses and communities to realize their dreams, protect their financial futures, and improve their lives,” John Montgomery, President and CEO at Community Bank, said.

So, it should come as no surprise that they’ve partnered with a wide variety of nonprofit organizations and community groups over the years to provide vital resources to those in need and advance projects that impact our region. More recently, Community Bank has made two meaningful monetary donations to the City Mission in Washington, PA and The Way Community Center of Greene County in Waynesburg, PA to help move forward impactful projects that serve the community.

“We have a quote on the wall at our headquarters that reads ‘The community gave us the chance, and it’s the community we’ll serve.’ We see it every day, and we take it to heart.” Montgomery said. “Serving our communities means that we offer financial solutions, support for local projects, volunteer at events and work to make a positive impact in the lives of those around us. For us at Community Bank, we are committed to the financial success and well-being of the communities we serve.”

Sally Mounts, the chief development officer at the City Mission in Washington, is thankful for Community Bank’s support. Their donation has helped to fund the nonprofit’s $7.1 million shelter that will house up to 50 women a night.

“Community Bank has been our friend for a long time, but they really showed up for us in this campaign, and I think it’s because they really do believe in building a stronger community,” Mounts said. “When we met with Community Bank to receive a very generous donation, they thanked us for what we were doing for the community. That’s the kind of people that you have at Community Bank.”

The shelter, named “Sally’s Sanctuary” after Mounts, is slated to open next May. The new facility will include a childcare space, a family sleeping unit, individual sleeping units and a common area. More importantly, it will fill an important void for the region.

“The problem for us has been that we have 90 beds for men, but only 40 beds for women. And the problem with that is the female population is now almost equal with the male population in homelessness. So, we’re turning women away,” Mounts said. “About 60 women a month.”

City Mission is continuing its fundraising efforts for the shelter. Mounts said the continued support from the community is impactful and appreciated.

“We’re not giving them a handout; we’re giving them a hand up,” she said.

Mounts isn’t alone in her sentiment. Jonathan Johnson, chairperson of The Way Community Center of Greene County, said programming aimed at improving the community doesn’t just impact those who utilize it.

“We needed a bright spot that people could look to in our community,” he said. “We’re trying to provide Greene County and its residents with opportunities that they otherwise would not have. We wanted to provide a space where everyone could be welcomed and valued.”

The Way, according to Johnson, will provide educational opportunities and resources to alleviate problems related to poverty, mental health, and relationships issues. The new community center is located in the former Belko Foods store. While they’re still actively fundraising for their campaign, Johnson hopes to begin programming in the coming months.

“The building was ready for some new life, and we hope that it instills an infused spirit of excitement within our whole community because it’s right on High Street,” Johnson said. “It’s already changed the neighborhood. It’s going to be able to serve so many different purposes.”

The space includes a fully functioning kitchen and a multi-purpose gym. Johnson said their vision is to partner with other nonprofits in the area.

“Our mission is to create a place where people can come and receive different services,” he said.

“We live in a rural community, so if you look at the circumference of a mile around the community center, we have a denser population than any other place in the county. It’s all about location, and it gives us the opportunity to connect people to resources.”

Johnson is thankful for Community Bank‘s support and looks forward to finding additional ways to partner in the future.

“They’ve been vital to our mission,” Johnson said. “Their donation helped us with the renovation of the building, and that’s the most important thing for us right now so that we can have a physical space for the community to come and get resources in a convenient location.”

In addition to monetary support, the Bank also encourages its employees to get involved with local organizations and give back to the community. As a recent example, John Montgomery, President & CEO, recently delivered the commencement address to over 350 graduating seniors at Waynesburg University, encouraging them to follow their dreams, invest in their future and improve the lives of those around them, much like the mission of Community Bank.

For more information about Community Bank, visit their website at www.cb.bank.

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