Each year, Trustmark Bank locations across the Southeast give “A Gift of Time,” and donate their time and money to different organizations in their communities.

This year marks the first year for Trustmark in Demopolis since the merger with BankTrust, so employees are out and about helping the Marengo County Historical Society and the Demopolis Food Pantry.

Rebecca Hasty, the Demopolis coordinator for Trustmark, said it’s a way for employees of the bank to get out in the community.

“We’re a large bank, but this allows us to show that we’re a hometown bank as well that’s focused on the community,” Hasty said. “This gives us an opportunity to take ownership and responsibility in our town because we don’t just work here; we live here.”

This week, bank employees have been working with the Historical Society at Lyon Hall to clean the fence around the property.

Kirk Brooker with the Historical Society said the volunteer help is great.

“We love volunteers,” he said. “This is a huge help for us. We have volunteers that help with all of our projects, but when a group calls you to help, it’s fantastic.”

Brooker also challenged other local businesses to get involved in the community.

“I challenge other businesses in town to get out and volunteer as a whole,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to get out in the community.”

Trustmark employees have been bleaching and scrubbing the fence this week, and Brooker said if time allows, they might also paint the fence.

In addition to the work at Lyon Hall, bank employees will work in the flowerbeds at Bluff Hall next week to pull weeds and plant new flowers.

“A lot of people are already helping in the community, but this initiative by Trustmark helps get everyone else involved as well,” Hasty said. “We highlighted the needs we could help with and got started.”

Some bank employees plan to volunteer at the Demopolis Food Pantry throughout the three-week initiative.

Trustmark’s “A Gift of Time” initiative runs from May 19-June 6.