From late November until Dec. 15, 2023, $890 million-asset Sanibel Captiva Community Bank hosted a toy drive at all seven of its open branches.
The Sanibel, Fla.-based community bank has hosted this toy drive for the past three years, but 2023 proved to be a particularly successful year: More than 500 children attended the Christmas Celebration that the toy drive supported, which is an increase on previous years.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank partnered with the Dr. Piper Center for Social Services, a social services organization for seniors and at-risk youth that has served southwest Florida for more than 100 years.
According to Amy McQuagge, Sanibel Captiva’s VP and director of marketing, the 2023 toy drive received many carloads of donations. Most notably, more than 200 youth bikes were given away.
According to McQuagge, these bikes provide a transportation option for kids and caregivers who may not have the means to finance a car.
“Every year [of the toy drive], [we] are able to serve more and more children, which speaks to the need,” said McQuagge.
The toy drive isn’t the only way Sanibel Captiva gives back to its communities. Since opening, it has partnered with about 400 local charitable organizations and granted about $4 million in donations to community causes.
“When an organization asks us to help them, there are so many different ways we can do that,” McQuagge said. “We also find other ways we can partner with organizations if we cannot offer them financial support.”
