SALISBURY — Weeks after Our Neighbors’ Table officials announced they had come up $200,000 short in its efforts to raise $6 million to operate its new Bridge Road food hub debt free, the Institution for Savings made up the difference last week.

“I read the article in the paper and I saw that they were $200,000 away from their $6 million 2024 goal, and I figured we would step up and make sure they made their goal,” Institution for Savings President Mike Jones said.

Jones and other Institution for Savings officials joined Haight for a tour of the hub Tuesday after donating $200,000 last week, with Jones calling the facility “so impressive.”

“I just really appreciate Lyndsey’s vision and I think that it took some time, but here we are today, and I think we’re doing exactly what we wanted to do,” Jones said, referring to Our Neighbors’ Table Executive Director Lynsdey Haight.

Our Neighbors’ Table opened the 24,000-square-foot food market and storage facility roughly four months ago. It includes 7,000-square-feet of dry storage, as well as 3,000-square-feet of cold storage. The nonprofit is in the midst of a $7.8 million capital campaign for the Salisbury food hub so it can operate the hub debt free.

The hub will serve the 25 food access organizations partnered in the Lower Merrimack Valley Food Coalition.

While the hub is still a work in progress, over a million pounds of food have passed through the building so far, with most of it coming from the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Haight said that hitting the $6 million milestone is huge for her organization after they had initially failed to hit the mark by Jan. 1.

“Six million dollars was a key benchmark for us. It was the minimum we needed just to be able to carry the costs of this expansion and serving the needs of the coalition,” Haight said.

She stressed not fundraising efforts are still far from done.

“We still have $1.8 million to get to the $7.8 million. We get to the $7.8 million and we are in great shape so that all of our future contributions go directly to serving the coalition and the 32,000 people that the coalition is serving,” Haight said.

Board of Directors member and chairman of the capital campaign Jim Krause thanked the bank and shared his belief that this donation could inspire others as the campaign nears its conclusion.

“There’s a bandwagon effect,” Krause said.

Haight said she was grateful for the over 300 donors who have contributed to the campaign so far.

“It’s one of the largest campaigns executed in this area for quite some time, and so it really speaks to everyone with varying capacities in their commitment to universal food access,” Haight said.

Folks looking to contribute to the campaign can do so at: fillemup.org

Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.

The Bank is one of only two companies to have made the top list every year that the list has been published.

Top Places to Work recognizes the most admired workplaces in the state voted on by the people who know them best—their employees. The survey measures employee opinions about their company’s direction, execution, connection, management, work, pay, benefits, and engagement. The employers are placed into one of four groups: small, with 50 to 99 employees; medium, with 100 to 249 workers; large, with 250 to 999 staff members; and largest, with a workforce of 1,000 or more employees.

The Institution for Savings was ranked number 17 in the Medium category, up from number 23 in 2023.

“What makes this honor so gratifying is that it is based on the confidential feedback from our very own employees,” said Institution for Savings president and CEO Michael J. Jones. “To be one of only two Massachusetts companies to have consistently made the list for 17 straight years -- at a time when workplaces are adjusting to meet the needs of a changing workforce -- makes this even more special.  Our employees are our greatest asset, and I am truly grateful to lead such a dedicated team.”

The Globe Magazine also includes a segment highlighting special recognitions some of the top companies bestow on their employees and features the Bank’s longstanding President’s Award, give annually to an employee that goes above and beyond.

“The best employers pay attention to the many ways work changes – and the many ways it stays the same – and figure out how to keep people engaged and motivated through it all,” said Katie Johnston, the Globe’s Top Places to Work editor.

The rankings in Top Places to Work are based on confidential survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention, from nearly 68,000 employees at 323 Massachusetts organizations.

SALEM — “What type of car can I afford on an actuary’s salary?” “What’s an HMO?” “I had no idea my parents paid that much for cable TV!”

Those were just a few of the comments from high school students navigating their future at the 14th annual Credit for Life Fair held May 23 at Salem State University.

More than 1,100 North Shore high school juniors from 14 schools attended the event, underwritten and organized by the Institution for Savings. They were joined by 150 community volunteers, including 50 IFS employees, Newburyport Mayor Sean Reardon, Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove, the division of bank examiners, financial planners, real estate agents and nonprofit leaders.

The Institution for Savings event is the largest of its kind in New England. High schools attending the event included Amesbury, Newburyport, Triton Regional, Pentucket Regional, Ipswich, Georgetown, Masconomet Regional, Hamilton-Wenham Regional, Salem, Swampscott, Beverly, Rockport and Gloucester, as well as Landmark School in Beverly.

Using the bank’s Credit for Life website (creditforlife.org), students created profiles on their mobile devices, then chose professions. Then using their assigned monthly “salaries,” along with a credit card and savings account, they visited 12 booths set up in Rockett Arena and purchased everything they would need to live as 25-year-olds. The booths featured housing, transportation, food and nutrition, education and training, health and wellness, and planning for the future.

The event’s goal, according to Institution for Savings President and CEO Michael Jones, was to help local high school students develop personal budgeting skills that they will use throughout their lives.

“The greatest part of the morning was listening in to the students talk about their choices and decision-making,” said Jones, whose twin sons attended the event from Ipswich High School. “Seeing them trying to decide if they can afford to live on their own or need a roommate, or choosing a used Jeep over a lease is so gratifying to me because that is exactly what this event is geared to do: Get them to start learning how to manage their money before they leave high school.”

Local community volunteers included Gove and Reardon, North Shore Chamber CEO Karen Andreas, Salem Pantry Executive Director Robyn Burns and Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce President Nate Allard.

“The Credit for Life Fair is an amazing event to witness in person,” Reardon said. “Financial literacy is such an important skill that currently is not required for graduation in Massachusetts schools. Institution for Savings deserves a lot of credit for bringing hundreds of juniors from 14 different high schools to come and participate in this immersive real-world financial simulation.”

A group of financial planners from EP Wealth Advisor and The Sentinel Group were also on hand to advise the students, as were staffers from Salem State University. Kristin MacDonald from the office of state Sen. Bruce Tarr also volunteered as did Phil DeCologero and Madison Gonzalez from the office of State Auditor Diana DiZoglio.

DeCologero, who has volunteered at the fair several times, said he is “always amazed” at the planning by organizers, the enthusiasm of volunteers, and the seriousness of students.

“I wish I had access to this type of programming when I was in high school, and it’s clear the students who do get to participate understand the benefit of the resources they’re being exposed to. Thank you to Institution for Savings for devoting so much to helping so many,” DeCologero said.

Gove said the fair offers “incredible hands-on learning experience” for Amesbury students.

“In the absence of required standardized financial literacy in our school, they’re filling the gap. Our students beg us for real life education and opportunities for ‘adulting’ and this program checks all the boxes. Every student should experience Credit for Life,” Gove said after the event.

A highlight of the morning was the Safety & Security Booth, staffed by police officers from eight North Shore communities.

Swampscott police Officer Brian Wilson brought Sora, the department’s comfort dog, along as well. Officers talked with the students about important issues that keep young adults safe, such as texting and avoiding substance use while driving, and having smoke detectors in living space. Students also took turns trying out impairment goggles that simulate levels of alcohol impairment to make them aware of how alcohol can adversely affect their vision and functions.

“The students learn so much, and have fun doing it,” Andreas said. “They talk about credit card debt, saving for emergencies, whether they should adopt a dog and afford the vet bills. It’s an outstanding learning experience.”