PLAINFIELD, N.J. (November 9, 2011) - Unity Bank's Chris Bono is inviting some friends, new and old, to a free Thanksgiving Dinner at the Plainfield Salvation Army. He is hoping for about 300 people.
"Last year we attracted about 150 people for our first free Thanksgiving dinner for families in need and I'm hoping we double that this year," said Bono, a Vice President and Market Leader for Unity Bank's branches in Middlesex, North Plainfield, Scotch Plains and South Plainfield. "I have volunteered in soup kitchens on Thanksgiving for years and we started the free dinner last year with the help of the Italian-American Club of North Plainfield, Salvation Army and Unity Bank. People were so appreciative that I knew it was the start of something great. I want it to go on for years and just keep getting bigger."
The free Thanksgiving Day dinner will be held from Noon to 2 pm at the Plainfield Salvation Army, 615 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield. "The dinner is intended for families in need, but everyone is welcome," said Bono, a Unity Bank employee for 12 years who started as a teller in the North Plainfield branch. "All of the food is donated and prepared by volunteers, including Unity Bank's Chairman David D. Dallas and President & CEO James A. Hughes. It is going to be a great Thanksgiving for everyone."
The menu will include all the Thanksgiving favorites, including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, pie and much more. Bono said he has more than enough food and volunteers for this year's dinner, but those interested in getting involved in the future can email him at Chris.Bono@unitybank.com. Bono is on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army of Plainfield, a member of the Italian-American Club of North Plainfield and the North Plainfield Lions. These organizations are helping to sponsor and promote the dinner as well as more than 20 churches.
About Unity Bank
Unity Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTY) is a financial services organization headquartered in Clinton, N.J. Unity Bank provides financial services to retail, corporate and small business customers through its 14 bank branches in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren Counties in New Jersey and Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Unity Bank provides traditional and community-oriented commercial banking services, including personal and business checking accounts and time deposits, money market accounts and regular savings accounts. For more information, please visit www.unitybank.com or call 800-618-BANK (800-618-2265).