We encourage all our team members to be involved and give back to organizations that are making a difference in their communities. This summer, a group of interns took that call to heart and decided to extend their summer impact beyond what they were doing for the bank, organizing a food drive and volunteer day at The Stewpot, a Dallas nonprofit that supports individuals and families experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Future Leaders Taking Charge to Make a Difference
Six 2025 Sunflower Bank summer interns, inspired by our ongoing community work and the encouragement to our employees to give back, came together to plan an event to grow the bank’s impact in their summer working community. The interns collectively decided that supporting a food bank, with both a food drive at the local branch and a volunteer opportunity, would be a great way to rally the team and give back.
Led by Lily Hagan, a rising sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, the team included Mateo Calderon (Boston College), Parker Burns (Auburn University), Philip Rosenfeld Jr. (Texas Christian University), Charles “Charlie” Schmidt (University of Texas at Austin), and Luke Freeman (Texas Christian University).
“Having a presence in the community is everything,” said Lily. “When you give to people around you, they’ll support you as well. I’ve had so many people invest wholeheartedly in my success that it’s inspired me to think about how I can give back.”
Lily volunteered to lead the initiative and reach out to The Stewpot to coordinate both the food drive and in-person volunteer event. The response from our employees was overwhelming! 22 volunteers signed up, two large boxes of donations were collected at the branch.
The Stewpot: A Safe Haven for the Homeless in Dallas, TX
Since 1975, The Stewpot has provided services for those experiencing homelessness and poverty in Dallas, TX, helping them move toward stability and self-sufficiency. Offering daily meals, case management, housing assistance, and access to healthcare and education, their mission is centered on dignity, compassion, and empowerment.
On the day of the in-person event, bank volunteers worked across two shifts at The Stewpot’s food pantry, serving as greeters, warehouse helpers, and “baggers” who packed and carried groceries for clients, referred to as “neighbors.”
“The Sunflower Bank team was truly incredible,” said Adrienne Nicholson, Manager of Volunteer Services for The Stewpot. “We were completely blown away by their energy and teamwork. Their service had a direct impact on hundreds of families, and we’re so grateful for their partnership.”
We’re proud of our interns for putting our core values into action and rallying our team to continue making an impact in their community.
Our team contributed 77 total volunteer hours, helping provide groceries for 247 families and 681 individuals.
77
Total Volunteer Hours
247
Families Helped
681
Individuals Helped