Scottdale Bank & Trust donates to local emergency service agencies

Eleven first responder agencies in Fayette and Westmoreland Counties have a few more dollars in their pockets thanks to Scottdale Bank & Trust.

The bank’s unique First Responder Donation Program is meant to help fire companies, fire police organizations, ambulance agencies and other emergency service groups that have accounts with the bank, which is a division of Mid Penn Bank, said community banking liaison Melinda Powell.

The annual program is especially needed this year as many emergency service agencies are struggling because of numerous fundraisers being canceled and additional costs for equipment borne out of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 100 first responder organizations in Pennsylvania this year received a total of $22,000 in donations through the program. The amount each agency received is based on their average account balance.

Locally, Powell said organizations that received the donation are:

• Connellsville Police Auxiliary
• Fayette EMS
• Laurel Valley Ambulance Services

Along with volunteer fire departments in:

• Connellsville
• Dawson
• East Huntingdon
• Everson
• Flatwoods
• Morrell
• Scottdale and
• West Leisenring

The amount each agency received was not available.

Powell said she regularly keeps tabs on various fundraisers and uses them as another way to give back to the community’s first responders.

“Our benefits and support spends in many different ways,” she said.

Mid Penn Bank President and CEO Rory G. Ritrievi announced an increase this year in the program’s donation because those working on the front lines during the pandemic have been especially challenged. The bank’s headquarters is in central Pennsylvania.

“We felt it was important to recognize their unwavering dedication to their communities by increasing our support,” he said in the announcement.