JOY, Ill. – Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois has donated a total of $10,000 to the Village of Joy and the City of New Boston, Illinois. The Village of Joy received a donation of $8,000, and the City of New Boston was awarded $2,000.
The donations were sourced through a COVID-19 Relief Program Grant provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago). The grants aim to support FHLBank Chicago’s member institutions, such as Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois, and the communities they serve as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois has always valued the relationships within our communities as the preferred financial partner. Our commitment to those relationships has only grown deeper during the pandemic,” said Bryan Hofmann, President/CEO of Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois. “By proactively applying for a FHLBank Chicago grant, we were able to make a positive impact in the communities we serve and will continue to support them. It is a privilege to work with Village of Joy and the City of New Boston, both towns that share our passion of community.”
Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois chose to deploy the relief funds to the Village of Joy to help remodel its Pavilion, as it has served as a communal gathering location for more than 60 years.
“We were thrilled to receive this generous donation from our friends at Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois to aid us in making necessary repairs to our Pavilion – a place of gathering for decades,” said Mark Heater, Mayor of Village of Joy. “Under the structure, many bands have played, many children have danced and sang, and many occasions have been celebrated. We feel it is important to keep this piece of history so people can continue making memories and simply enjoy its presence.”
The City of New Boston will use the funds to complete its Veteran’s Memorial, a landscaped green space with tablets for each branch of service that stands to honor all veterans who have served our country in times of war and peace.
“We are grateful for the donation from Farmers-Merchants Bank of Illinois. The Memorial is important and shows this is a close-knit community that supports all veterans, past and present,” said Chris Defrieze, Mayor of New Boston. “Amidst the pandemic, we are reminded of the importance of coming together. These funds will help us continue to honor veterans and bring together our city.”
