Bank gets creative for Project Salina

By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

Lloyd Davidson lent a hand to Project Salina this month, and then he became one over the lunch hour Wednesday.

The president of First Bank Kansas, 235 S. Santa Fe, received the most votes -- in the form of money -- to wear the Helping Hand costume resembling the figurine used to promote Hamburger Helper.

The bank was assigned to collect the nonperishable food in this year's Project Salina charitable food drive and exceeded its goal by more than $700.

Davidson said he received a number of honks and waves as he paraded on a cool mid-day in front of the downtown bank, greeting customers.

"It made me hungry for hamburger," Davidson said. "It was a pretty comfortable day to do it."

The bank's 85 employees -- 40 at the downtown location -- voted with their money to see which of the bosses would wear the Helping Hand. Jackie Hogan, an assistant cashier/operations at the downtown bank, made the costume.

"He was a good sport," Hogan said.

Employees donated $544.58 to put Davidson in the costume, besting donations for senior vice presidents Kent Buer, $244.41, and Angie Eilrich, $200.59.

To make even more money, the candidates collected money on their own to stay out of the costume, Hogan said. Some sold their parking places. Davidson auctioned off the chance to serve as bank president, and he switched jobs for a day. The highest bidder was a bank worker from McPherson.

Throughout the campaign this month, the three officials kept piggy banks in their offices and "sold answers," Hogan said. "If you had a question for them, you had to pay them to solve problems."

The bank, with branches in Salina, Assaria, McPherson, Abilene, Kanopolis and Ellsworth, used several creative ideas to raise $2,206.08 for Project Salina. Some actual boxes of Hamburger Helper were donated.

"It was amazing to me. I think the highest we'd ever done was $1,500," Davidson said. "I think people around here understand our economy is good compared to what other areas of the country are seeing. I'm glad we can step forward."

Auctioneer Eric Blomquist, Assaria, donated his time for a live auction for food, a vacation day (it sold for $50) and a set of golf clubs donated by employees.

Good reports from businesses and organizations are encouraging, said Byron Norris, president of Project Salina.

Ends today

The Project Salina campaign ends today. As of noon Wednesday, businesses had reported collecting 91,397 of the 187,561 food items needed for six Salina agencies. Agencies to be helped are the Salina Rescue Mission, Ashby House, Salina Youth Care, Salvation Army, the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank and DVACK.

At McShares Inc., 1835 E. North, where Norris is vice president of human resources and risk management, 851 pounds of pancake mix had been collected.

"I'm happy with that," he said.

Project Salina has met or exceeded its goals each year since its inception in 1990 -- except for last year.

"We actually came up with the same amount of money or food items, but the cost of food was up 23 percent," Norris said. "We were not able to buy all the food that we needed."

Having less than half of what is needed so far this year "doesn't frighten me," Norris said.

Being short at the end is fairly normal, he said. More items will trickle in.

"We will get closer," Norris said. "How close that will be, your guess is as good as mine. It will drag out several days."

Wednesday's announcement is a good reminder to folks from the 210 participating businesses and organizations who have not yet turned in all of what has been collected.

"We need those numbers so we know exactly where we stand," Norris said.

The nonperishable goods will be sorted and stored at a warehouse donated by Salina Regional Health Center.

Anyone with questions may call Jill Bohrer, Project Salina treasurer, at 826-8210.

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