A tax preparation program for seniors will begin Feb. 1. The AARP TaxAide program prepares taxes for free and serves clients that are primarily middle and low income seniors. The program will be available Monday through Saturday until April 15. Starting Jan. 20, appointments can be made by  calling 345-2820.

Here is the press release from AARP TaxAide Roanoke Valley.

The AARP TaxAide program, staffed by volunteers, will commence their annual tax preparation program on February 1, 2013 and continue through April 15, 2013, Monday through Saturday.  The TaxAide program prepares and electronically files federal and state tax returns for clients that are primarily middle and low income seniors.  The tax preparation is performed by trained, IRS certified counselors.  The service is provided at no cost to the taxpayer and the return is electronically filed to expedite tax refunds. Read more »

A new State Farm insurance location has opened on Electric Road in Roanoke. Insurance agent Chance Miller relocated his office to Roanoke. He was previously located in Lebanon. The staff includes fully licensed agents Tayler Miller, Danielle Zombkowski and Linda Kruse.

Here is the press release from  Executive Business Services.

Roanoke, VA- January 13, 2013 – Chance Miller – State Farm Insurance Agent (www.chancemiller.net) has opened a new State Farm insurance business at 3555 Electric Road, Suite J in Roanoke, VA.    Read more »

With the help of an employee cookout, auction and denim day, Member One raised money to support the Virginia Law Enforcement Program which helps officers work through trauma. Member One donated more than $3,100 to VALEAP.

Here is the press release from Member One.

December 25, 2012- Roanoke, Va. – Member One recently held three different fundraisers to provide support to the Virginia Law Enforcement Program, VALEAP for short. Through an employee cookout, auction and denim day, Member One raised $3,176.34 for the program. Read more »

National Bank Chairman, President & CEO James G. Rakes presents the bank’s donation to Captain Jim Forrer of the Salvation Army of the New River Valley

National Bank employees took part in the Salvation Army of the New River Valley Angel Tree program. Employees purchased gifts and collected money that benefited more than 30 children in this year’s program.

Here is the press release from National Bank.

Holiday wishes do come true with a little help from the National Bank employees who participated in this year’s Salvation Army Angel Tree gift giving program.

At the beginning of every holiday season the Salvation Army of the New River Valley asks individuals and businesses throughout the area to adopt an “Angel” by purchasing gifts for local children in need. The program serves Floyd, Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski Counties as well as the City of Radford. Read more »

Presenting $4,000 to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia’s L2ork (Linux Laptop Orchestra) program, a partnership with Virginia Tech. Rod Nuñez of Freedom First is presenting the check to Daria Goode of BGCSWVA, with lots of program participants cheering them on.

Freedom First Credit Union announced that they have donated $25,000 in annual community grant awards to eight nonprofit agencies in Roanoke and the New River Valley. Nonprofits who received grants include: Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley; Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia;Community Outreach Program of Roanoke; Intellectual Disabilities Agency of the NRV; NRV Cares; Roanoke Children’s Theatre; Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority; and Total Action for Progress.

Here is the press release from Freedom First.

December 17, 2012 (Roanoke, VA)—At a time when many nonprofits are experiencing both increases in need and decreases in donations, Freedom First Credit Union announces a record $25,000 in annual community grant awards to support the vital programs offered by eight local nonprofit agencies. Read more »

CBIZ’s Roanoke office contributed 19,602 pounds of food during the company’s annual holiday food drive. The company as a whole collected 648,000 pounds of food for the needy this year. Donated food will be given to a local food bank. CBIZ is a professional services and accounting provider.

The first credit union to be established in Botetourt County will hold its grand opening Jan. 11-12. Freedom First Credit Union will hold its open house at the new branch on Route 220 in the former Blue Collar Joe’s location.  A ribbon cutting ceremony, prizes, entertainment and refreshments will be part of the grand opening celebration. The branch officially opens Jan. 2.

Here is the press release from Freedom First.

Roanoke, VA (December 13, 2012) — Freedom First Credit Union will open its newest branch in Daleville on January 11, 2013 at 1171 Roanoke Road, where Blue Collar Joe’s once stood on 220 South. Freedom First is the first credit union to establish a full-service branch in Botetourt County. The branch officially opens Jan. 2, 2013, with the grand opening celebration occurring on Friday, Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The festivities kick off with a ribbon-cutting Friday morning, and both days will include prizes, entertainment, and refreshments. Read more »

Vic Gilchrist, Market President of Bank of America, presents Joy Sylvester-Johnson, Rescue Mission CEO a check for $13,500. This check will cover 28 hours and 7 minutes of Rescue Mission work to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and treat the sick.

Roanoke’s Rescue Mission is the recipient of a grant from Bank of  America. The $13,500 donation will be used to the Rescue Mission operate. This donation is enough to run the mission for over 28 hours.

Here is the press release from The Rescue Mission.

Roanoke, VA (December 12, 2012) – Bank of America has awarded a grant of $13,500 to The Rescue Mission. The money will be used to operate the Rescue Mission for a little more than one day. Bank of America has presented this gift through their “Critical Needs Grant” because they value the Rescue Mission’s presence in the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Joy Sylvester-Johnson said “Mission work happens one day at a time.
We never know who will be in crisis, but we need to be ready with safe shelter, good food and medical attention, so gifts that cover a day of Mission are really important to help us keep the doors of the Mission open. The grant is representative of the financial amount needed to operate the Rescue Mission for one full day of services.”

The Rescue Mission of Roanoke, located at 402 Fourth Street SE, is a 501(C)(3) grassroots organization serving as a Christian Crisis Intervention Center for Southwestern Virginia.  Receiving no government funding of any kind, the Rescue Mission is supported by the generous donations of our community partners.  Since 1948, The Rescue Mission has consistently served all people in need regardless of race, creed, gender, age, or ethnicity.  For more information about the Rescue Mission, please visit www.rescuemission.net, or call (540) 343-7227.

Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and  risk management products and services. Bank of America has  several core areas of focus concerning Corporate Social Responsibility,  including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability;  strengthening local communities with a focus on housing,  hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development;  and engaging through arts and culture.

Ground was broken in Christiansburg on Tuesday for a new location for NewRiver Bank. NewRiver Bank, a branch of HomeTown Bank, is scheduled to move to the new location in late summer. J.M. Turner & Company General Contractors will build the bank according to Gilliam Katz design and architecture by Rife & Wood Architects.

Here is the press release from HomeTown Bank.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (Dec. 11, 2012) – NewRiver Bank, a branch of HomeTown Bank, today broke ground on a new 9,000-square-foot branch in Christiansburg to meet the growing needs of its neighbors in the New River Valley. Read more »

Financial advisers at Ameriprise Financial in Roanoke volunteered at Feeding America Southwest Virginia as part of a national day of service. Participants sorted and packed donated food to be shipped to local food pantries.  Stewart L. Barnes, Edward R. Barnes and James A. Harlow from the  Roanoke office volunteered time at Feeding America.

Here is the press release from Ameriprise.

Roanoke, VA – (November 28, 2012) – Ameriprise financial advisors from Roanoke recently joined forces with their colleagues, clients, family and friends, to help fight domestic hunger. On November 16, the group of 35 participants volunteered at Feeding America Southwest Virginia where they sorted and packed donated food items for distribution to local food pantries. The event was part of a national day of service organized by the company. Ameriprise financial advisors, staff and employees across more than 45 states have committed to volunteering at approximately 350 hunger relief organizations in their local communities. Read more »