DUNCAN — In a time when many believe that charity, selflessness and similar values are waning in society, a local business is taking initiatives that oppose that trend.

The Duncan IBC Bank donated at least $5,000 worth of furniture and appliances to the Stephens County Youth Shelter and United Way agencies June 19.

For Barbra Greene-Davis, shelter director, “shopping” for the items was like Christmas in June.

“IBC Bank on 10th and Main, actually Cynthia (Michel) and Hal (Labyer), have been so good to our program,” Greene-Davis said. “They always think about us, and anything they can provide our children and home.”

Because the bank at North U.S. Highway 81 had closed its branch on the east side of the road and opened a new facility on the west side, there was a lot of commercial grade furniture that needed a new home.

“When you have 175 kids coming through here (at the shelter), furniture can get worn down and commercial grade furniture is expensive. I was able to get some great chairs ... excellent chairs, and now I can get rid of the ones where springs are popping,” Greene said.

She was especially happy to receive tables that can be used as craft tables for the children.

“The little ones can sit around them and get messy,” she said.

A refrigerator, picnic table and even art was among the items Greene-Davis is excited to put in the house.

“It’s going to make our house look better, work better. The kids are so excited.” The art is Native American art and offers a calming effect, she said, and goes with the culture of southwest Oklahoma.

“This is the third year we have been making donations to the shelter,” said Michel, who is assistant vice president of IBC Bank.

“The shelter is actually a pet project of IBC,” Michel said. “We collect for them year-round, especially at Christmas time. We have wish lists for needed or requested items for them, as well as drop-off sites for donations at both branches.”

Michel has had personal experience with the shelter, and has “visited several times and played with the babies, and spoken with the teenagers. I feel the kids there deserve the same things in their home as everyone else.”

Greene-Davis said, “They are true givers. They have done so much for our shelter. They’ve gotten their customers involved in donating to the shelter.”

May and June have proved difficult months for the shelter as for the number of children that are coming through the door, Greene-Davis noted. The donations are proving a great morale booster for the workers and the children. Greene-Davis said getting the donations helps the shelter use its funding for other items for the children, which include outings to places like Oklahoma City Zoo or waterparks — places many of the children normally wouldn’t get to visit.

Also benefiting from the bank branch closing was the United Way of Stephens County. That agency received a large conference table, shelving, a dinette set and a file cabinet.

Leo Michel of Leo Michel Concrete and Ladd Polk of Bailes-Polk Funeral Home also donated their time, labor and trailers to move the items to the shelter and the United Way.

The bank is no stranger to donating and volunteering for charitable causes, and has aided with many projects within the community for years.

“Right now, we are doing Operation: Care Drop. We have two drop-offs at each branch, and it’s for collecting items for soldiers that are currently deployed,” Michel said.

“We also collect year-round for Gabriel’s House, and we take on several projects throughout the year such as Cops and Kids, working a lot with Duncan Little Theatre, and volunteering at the local rodeos and the Cruisin’ the Chisholm Trail car show.”

Michel also noted that the employees of IBC do this volunteer work off the clock in their spare time.



Toni Hopper contributed

to this story.