We believe every good deed, however large or small, makes a difference. Holding the door for an elderly person, fostering homeless animals, or regularly volunteering to help the underserved are important for creating a culture of kindness. For these reasons and because we feel strongly about honoring our commitment to the community, Popular Community Bank (PCB) supports Make a Difference Day — USA Today’s initiative for sharing education, necessities, experience, moral support, and care to help people in need.

On October 24 in New York, Make a Difference Day included Amistad’s School Fall Carnival, which offered financial literacy workshops for parents and students, the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk to raise funds to find a cure for breast cancer, and the Harlem Education Activities Fund, Inc., which provided valuable practical information on choosing a bank, keeping an account balance, understanding bank statements, reconciling accounts, and balancing a checkbook. We also supported the Junior Achievement University to help students explore colleges, establish goals, and develop budgets to save for college and the Publicolor Program, which helps support students’ commitment to education. Among highlights of Make a Difference Day was our PCB-hosted food drive, which our New York and New Jersey branches shared. Our New York offices collected donations for the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger and Housing and Services, Inc.  Our NJ Branch managers collected food donations and delivered them to the Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation.

The Make a Difference Day Florida programs included volunteering to help or donating personal care products for elderly residents at Palmetto Subacute Care Center; helping at the Adopt a Stray garage sale to help raise money for homeless animals; assisting with arts and crafts, reading to children, or donating books and games for the Chapman Partnership Empowering the Homeless; helping boost esteem among children who have been victims of crime, poverty, and homelessness at the Every Child Deserves Neat Stuff Annual Halloween Party; and volunteering to teach kids about business and financial literacy in the Junior Achievement Program.

Even if you lead a very busy life, consider what a difference a day can make when you support those who need a helping hand.