In keeping with Nevada State Bank’s core value of Community, the bank hosted a Veterans Donation Drive in October and November 2022. In southern Nevada, the drive benefitted the Las Vegas chapter of U.S. VETS, while Northern Nevada supported the Veterans Guest House in Reno. The drive was organized and supported by NSB’s Veterans Business Support Group in partnership with the bank’s Colleague Engagement Team.
At NSB’s annual Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treat on October 27, each cash donation or donated item earned a raffle ticket for gift baskets donated by the bank’s Executive Management Committee. Colleagues in southern Nevada were asked to bring cold weather accessories such as warm gloves, hats, socks and scarves for U.S. VETS. These items were also collected at branches throughout the area.
U.S. VETS provides housing, career development, counseling and individualized support to homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. The Las Vegas site serves over 400 veteran households every year. Its two residential facilities offer 330 beds of transitional and permanent housing, and more than 400 veteran households each year are provided rapid re-housing and homeless prevention services. U.S. VETS provides employment services through a workforce program that helps more than 110 veterans return to employment each year. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce selected U.S. VETS - Las Vegas as its 2022 Nonprofit of the Year, recognizing its commitment to ending veteran homelessness.
The donation drive in northern Nevada benefitted the Veterans Guest House in Reno, which was founded to address the need for overnight lodging for veterans seeking medical care in the Reno/Sparks area. NSB colleagues were asked to donate pantry and household items for the House, including bottled water, snacks, condiments, hand sanitizer and other items from the organization’s wish list. These items were also collected at local branches. The Guest House provides veterans and their families temporary overnight accommodations while receiving medical treatment at any hospital or medical facility, long-term care facility, or dental facility in Reno/Sparks. Without the Guest House, many veterans and their families would sleep in their cars or would not receive the medical care they need. Their facility, which can serve 33 individuals every night, served more than 4,300 guests in 2021.
Susan Stanton, SVP/Human Resources Manager, who serves on the Advisory Board for U.S. VETS-Las Vegas, partnered with the NSB Veterans Business Resource Group for the 2022 Veterans Donation Drive. At the end of the drive, she announced that the bank had raised a total of $1679.00 for U.S. Vets and $1249.52 for the Veterans Guest House, in addition to the items donated to help each group.
“At Nevada State Bank, we are honored to serve and support our Veteran community and our active military service members," she said. "We are humbled by their service and sacrifice. We pride ourselves on our commitment to our “Community” core value and are grateful to our colleagues and clients who generously donated to our local Veteran communities, which will have a meaningful impact. As we reflect on the sacrifices made by our Veterans, I encourage you to share a kind word or a simple thank you with a Veteran – it can mean more than you realize”.