Engaging with our communities is not just a priority for me personally but is a deeply held commitment by PSSI as a whole. As the leader of our community engagement efforts at SFCI in North Little Rock, I know that every member of the communities we serve are connected to us in one way or another — as employees, family members, or customers — and PSSI believes in uplifting them however we can.

In nearly all the areas we operate in, our team members are on the ground trying to make a real difference in the communities we call home. Especially here in Arkansas, our longstanding relationship with Shorter College has allowed us to do just that. As part of our ongoing commitment to education, we have helped re-imagine the internship program to provide hands-on opportunities to learn, and have successfully graduated seven interns over the past two years.

We’ve also been able to provide community support in a time of need, working with Shorter College to donate 150 free turkeys in time for the holidays to residents after a deadly apartment fire.

With the help of one of our team members, a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority alum, we have also had the opportunity to partner with the local chapter to provide high school seniors with college scholarships. I am proud to say that thanks to this partnership and our contributions, 25 local students will be attending college this fall.

Through our work with the Arkansas Food Bank we have exciting initiatives on the horizon, including pop-up pantries, telethons, and pack-a-thons to provide food for the most vulnerable members of our community.

Whether it is putting food on the table of someone who needs it or helping to send someone to college, giving back to the community is a core part of PSSI’s mission. I am beyond honored to be involved in this work and incredibly grateful for our team members who give their time to make our community a better place.