Tompkins VIST bank hosts food truck events

Four Friday free lunches are a ‘thank you' from the bank

WYOMISSING >> After what it calls a “tough year” for the communities it serves, Tompkins VIST Bank has announced plans for a series of food truck lunches at four of its branches, to show the company’s appreciation for its neighbors.

Food Truck Fridays will start Sept. 17, and continue over four weeks. Each week a food truck will visit a different branch, offering a free lunch to the branch’s neighbors, courtesy of Tompkins VIST Bank. The four branches that will host food trucks are: Blue Bell, Conshohocken, Bala Cynwyd and Wayne.

The event is a thank you to nonprofits as well. Each of the four branches has chosen a local nonprofit, and Tompkins VIST Bank will make a $1,000 donation to each nonprofit.

“Community is at the heart of what we do,” Scott Stimson, regional community banking manager, said in a statement. “Since the past year and a half has been so tough for everyone, we wanted to provide a gift to our local communities to show how much they mean to us.”

Tompkins VIST Bank’s Food Truck Fridays will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• Sept. 17: El Sarape at Centre Square Branch, 998 DeKalb Pike. Blue Bell — to benefit Centre Square Fire Co.

• Sept. 24: Sumpig Food Truck will visit the Conshohocken Branch, 221 West Ridge Pike, Conshohocken — to benefit Manna on Main St. Canned food donations will be accepted.

• Oct. 1: Bassetts Ice Cream will visit the Bala Cynwyd Branch, One Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd —to benefit Share Food Program Inc. Canned food donations will be accepted.

• Oct. 8: The Pizza Wagon will visit the Wayne Branch, 600 West Lancaster Avenue, Strafford — to benefit the Domestic Abuse Project

of Delaware County.

“No one needs to purchase lunch; it is on us,” Ann Fioravanti, AVP of Marketing, Tompkins VIST Bank, said in an emailed response to questions, adding the bank wanted to do something for the community in a “COVID-safe environment.”

“We also wanted to do something for our area nonprofits. They need our support now more than ever,” she said.

Two of the nonprofits are food banks, according to Fioravanti, who said members of the community can bring canned goods to donate at those Food Truck Friday events — Sept. 24 and Oct. 1.

Fioravanti said the four Food Truck Fridays are the first events of this type the bank has planned.

“But we are planning to do similar events in 2022,” she added.

All guests at the Food Truck Fridays will be asked to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, including mask wearing and social distancing. Each attendee will be asked to return to their vehicle after ordering their lunch and will not be allowed inside the bank unless performing a banking transaction.

Tompkins VIST Bank, a subsidiary of Tompkins Financial Corp. has its headquarters in Berks County and has 19 branches serving southeastern Pennsylvania, including five locations in Montgomery County, one location in Delaware County, 12 locations in Berks County and one location in Philadelphia County.