Independent Banker - September 2023 - 46

Honorable Mention
National Community Bank Service Awards
SPONSORED BY
to donate tens of thousands of
individual school supplies to our
local school districts ... The supplies
are most benefi cial for families who
do not qualify for federally funded
assistance by the school system
but are still struggling fi nancially.
... In our area, many families still
face hardships from COVID and
Hurricane Ida. The supplies are
also given to school counselors to
be distributed to children in need
throughout the school year.
Synergy Bank started
the Bayou Pack the
Bus school supply
drive nine years ago.
Giving kids the tools they need
ince opening in 1999, Synergy Bank has made a name for itself with
its unique brand of customer service and dedication to bettering
the community. Nine years ago, Synergy Bank started Bayou Pack the
Bus, where the bank and local organizations fill a school bus with school
supply donations. Jerry Ledet Jr., president and CEO, and Katie Portier,
marketing director and assistant vice president, share more about the
program's community impact.
Q: What inspired Bayou Pack
the Bus?
Katie Portier: Synergy Bank is
always looking for impactful ways
to give back to our community. We
wanted to fi nd a unique way to help
local students succeed in school. We
fell in love with the idea of packing a
school bus with supplies. ... I always
credit the poem " 'Cause I Ain't Got
No Pencil " by Joshua T. Dickerson as
inspiration for Bayou Pack the Bus.
The poem describes some of the daily
challenges children can face through
no fault of their own before they even
arrive at school. ... Something as
simple as a pencil could change their
day's trajectory and life. Not only did
this inspire the school supply drive,
but it also inspired Synergy Bank to
donate 20,000 pencils each year to
the drive.
Q: Who did you work with to make
the supply drive happen?
Portier: We are fortunate that
this project is supported by many
local businesses, organizations and
individuals within our community.
We partner with more than 50 local
businesses and organizations to serve
as drop-off locations.
Q: What impact has this had on the
schools in your community?
Portier: Each year, we are able
46 // ICBA Independent Banker // September 2023
S
Q: How does Bayou Pack the Bus
fit into Synergy Bank's culture?
Jerry Ledet Jr.: One of our core
values at Synergy Bank is service,
which is not only to our customers
but to our community. Our team
volunteers for many nonprofi t
organizations throughout the
year. Bayou Pack the Bus perfectly
exemplifi es how our team jumps in
to help our community.
Q: How else does Synergy
give back to its community?
Ledet Jr.: Team Synergy volunteers
hundreds of hours to nonprofi t
organizations each year. In 2022,
our team provided 517 volunteers
to 35 local nonprofi t events in our
communities. On average, Team
Synergy volunteered nearly 1,050
hours last year.
-Aveya Hannan
Synergy Bank
Asset size: $1 billion
Location: Houma, La.
synergybank.com
Mark your calendar!
Nominations for ICBA's
National Community Bank
Service Awards 2024 will
open in the spring.
http://www.synergybank.com
Independent Banker - September 2023

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