A place of their own to study at home is what Hills Bank and United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties is providing local students. On Thursday morning, before the bank opened, staff and volunteers gathered to assemble 20 black and silver desks and black chairs with brightly colored seat cushions. Becky Mougin the branch manager of the Hills Bank in Washington says it’s important to help the community, “Hills Bank is based on the philosophy of giving back to the community. So, I think it’s important that they all get involved. The community here has been really good to us here at the bank, so we want to give back and especially to the youth of our community, give them the tools they need to succeed in life. So that they can grow up and be responsible adults, and give back to the community.”

Volunteers from area service clubs also lent a hand during the assembly. The desks and chairs will soon be placed with students in need in Washington County. Each desk comes with a handwritten note of encouragement from a person who assembled it.