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Close to a dozen BB&T employees recently gave their morning to volunteer at the Patient and Family Resource Center (PFRC) at the N.C. Cancer Hospital. They came to deliver the BB&T “Comfort Cart,” a rolling cart filled with snacks to comfort and sustain cancer patients and their families while they are at the cancer hospital. They brought enough granola bars, nutrition shakes and other non-perishable snacks to keep the cart stocked for months. They also brought the gifts of housekeeping and organization.

All morning, the volunteers cheerfully organized the rooms and storage areas at the PFRC. Winter hats and scarves were packed away to make room for spring and summer items. The window display in The Mary Anne Long Brighter Image Boutique was freshened with straw hats and bright floral scarves. Tina Shaban, BSN, RN, OCN, manager of the PFRC said of the BB&T team “they were such a good group – willing to do any task no matter how mundane – and they did it cheerfully!” The BB&T volunteers pose with their comfort cart at the N.C. Cancer Hospital

The Comfort Cart was made possible by BB&T’s company-wide community service effort, the BB&T Lighthouse Project. This initiative held each May and June, offers service and corporate financial support to nonprofit organizations. In addition, the Lighthouse Project gives BB&T employees the opportunity to improve the communities they serve.

This project was organized by Agustin Fiorito, BB&T IT Estimation and Demand Intake Manager and Karen Monsees, BB&T IT Portfolio Services Manager, in conjunction with Shaban. Fiorito said, “This was my first opportunity to participate in this kind of activity, and I enjoyed every bit of it. We’re fortunate to work for a bank that cares for the community so much to give us the time and support to do this.” Monsees agrees saying, “It’s great to know that the wonderful facility and caring group of people exists at UNC Lineberger! I am incredibly thankful for BB&T’s Lighthouse Project for giving us the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people out in the community.”

Both the comfort cart and the volunteer hours will enable the PFRC to better serve patients. Shaban explained the impact of BB&T’s gift, “we are so grateful for the comfort cart, the food for our patients and all the help we received. All the work they did would have taken us so much time! That’s time we can now spend with our patients and families. We are so impressed with BB&T’s commitment to give back to the community.”