‘Heartwarmers’ joined by First Interstate Bank volunteers for a day of gift-making

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Every September 10th, First Interstate Bank has a “volunteer day", where bank staff are given time off to help out local charities.

KTVZ went out with employees to one local cause.

Heartwarmers is a long-standing nonprofit in Bend that makes blankets, stuffed toys and more. The warm gifts they make go to sick children in hospitals, the unhoused, and to senior citizens.

This makes it a perfect fit for First Interstate’s volunteers.

“It just helps in so many different communities, from Deschutes County to Jefferson County. And, it's just a great thing that they're doing here to help kids," said Lisa Dalton, a supervisor with First Interstate Bank. "When I was making the blanket, I was just thinking of, you know, where it's going to end up, and I'm just very happy to be part of that.”

The group from First Interstate got right to work making blankets.

Other groups from the bank were out volunteering at other places, including Mosaic Medical.