Employees work half-day at Youth Villages/ChristieCare during annual event

Key Bank employees have no problem rolling up their sleeves and digging in the dirt for a worthy cause, and that is exactly what employees from the King City branch did May 24 during the annual "Neighbors Make a Difference Day."

This year marked the 22nd annual event for the nationwide institution, and the King City crew returned to the campus of Youth Villages-ChristieCare of Oregon in Lake Oswego, where it serves families with children with emotional and behavioral problems through intensive in-home services and residential treatment.

"We were joined by Key Bank employees from Tualatin, Sherwood and Lake Oswego," said King City teller Jan Compton.

"It was really fun, and it didn't rain. We tilled up 2 acres and planted a vegetable garden for the kids, we spread bark dust in the playground area, we planted flowers, and we had a cake and ice cream party for the kids.

"It was a great day, and it was very, very fortunate the weather was kind to us. All of us at the bank look forward to doing this every year, although not all branches closed - some were open."

The newly planted vegetable garden included eight to 10 tomato plants plus corn, peas and zucchini, according to Compton.

For the King City group, local businesses made all the difference - Tony and Tina Slyter, owners of Grocery Outlet in King City and Newberg, and architect Rick White and his wife Candi of the White House Collection, provided the food.

Compton, who has been at the King City branch for 12 years, said employees started volunteering at the You Village/Christie school eight or nine years ago, and the effort has continued to grow.

"We could not have done the job we did without all the help from the other branches," Compton said.

"We are so grateful to everyone who volunteered, and I'm hoping they will want to do it again next year. It takes a lot of hard work to get it all accomplished."

In addition to employees from the branches, there were people there from the loan center and other departments, Compton said.

"I am already looking forward to it next year," Compton added. "I am absolutely delighted we could do it for the kids and staff this year."