Eastern Bank charity builds playground at Saugus YMCA

SAUGUS ? Mindy Medick, the new Saugus YMCA executive director, has already seen what can happen when a local business steps in to help a non-profit organization achieve a goal.Late last month, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation provided a $10,000 grant and plenty of volunteer labor culled from the ranks of its area branch employees to build a much-needed playground at the YMCA on Main Street.”Their volunteer labor is saving us at least $5,000 more,” said Medick, a recently transplanted Texas native. “All of the volunteers are from Eastern Bank area branches, so it’s great that they can help their Y and their kids.”According to Medick, the playground will benefit children between ages two and 12 through YMCA programs and activities, including pre-school, summer camp and after-school care.Elizabeth O’Hara, Eastern Bank regional manager for 16 branches on the North Shore and a member of the Greater Lynn YMCA, said the playground construction was a gratifying experience for the bank employees who participated.”I was directly involved in this because I’m on the Lynn board, so when we talked about donating a playground, we asked the Saugus YMCA who would actually put it up for them.”O’Hara said the bank offered its volunteer services and 14 employees showed up to help. “It was amazing. The man in charge of the playground company had us pouring cement and moving metal bars,” she said. “By the end of the day, every one of us was dirty and exhausted, but every single person also said they would do it again. It was a great team event.”Eastern Bank has a long history of giving back to the community, said O’Hara, noting that 10 percent of the institution’s net income is channeled to the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation. “The foundation then turns around and donates to all the communities. This year alone, we expect to give $3 million.”The bank also recently donated $5,000 to the Food Project in Lynn, she said.The playground equipment was purchased from Dibble & Sons Park Equipment, Inc., in Salem.