F&M Trust donates Comfort Buddies to first responders for children in need
November 25, 2025
More than 250 employees of F&M Trust recently spent an afternoon in Carlisle assembling “Comfort Buddies” for first responders to assist children in need.
During the event, F&M Trust employees assembled and decorated more than 300 plush animals. Each “Comfort Buddy” was outfitted with a custom-designed t-shirt featuring a personalized inspirational message, crafted to offer encouragement and comfort.
The completed Comfort Buddies will be donated to several local police and fire departments, including the Waynesboro Police Department, Chambersburg Fire and Police Departments, Carlisle Police Department, West Shore Regional Police Department, Lower Paxton Police Department, Hampden Township Police Department, and Swatara Police Department. These donations aim to support first responders in their efforts to assist children facing difficult circumstances, providing them with a tangible source of comfort during challenging times.
“In my more than 40 years of banking experience, I’ve never witnessed such a high level of engagement between employees and their community as I have at F&M Trust,” said Craig Best, President and CEO of F&M Trust. “We are deeply committed to our workforce and to being a responsible corporate citizen.” Best continued, “F&M Trust successfully dedicates significant resources to support employee initiatives and community involvement, without compromising our position as a top performing financial institution.”
Officers from the Swatara Police Department actively participated in the Comfort Buddies event, sharing personal accounts of how these plush animals have made a meaningful impact during their interactions with children. In cases involving trauma and abuse, the officers explained that the Comfort Buddies serve as a crucial source of emotional support for affected children. The presence of these plush animals helps to ease children’s anxiety and distress, creating a sense of safety that encourages them to trust the officers during ongoing investigations.
This event marked the bank’s annual observance of Banktoberfest, which since its inception in 2016, has emphasized team building, exceeding expectations and community service. Previous events included projects that contributed to environmental conservation efforts, benefiting area food pantries, providing essentials for local at-risk veterans and supporting youth foster care agencies.
F&M Trust partnered with Impact 4 Good, an organization that specializes in charitable team-building activities, to facilitate the event.
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