#PFBcares | Stories That Make an Impact
At Planters First Bank, we believe banking is about more than transactions—it’s about people, purpose, and community. #PFBcares is Planters First Bank’s community initiative dedicated to meaningful projects that enrich and support the communities we serve. Through #PFBcares, we’re honored to spotlight Karter Jane Smith, a young author whose journey shows how compassion, kindness, and a caring heart can create meaningful change—one story at a time.
Author Spotlight: Karter Jane Smith
Planters First Bank is excited to welcome Karter Jane Smith for a special book-signing event celebrating her debut children’s book, Sloth Goes to Savannah.
Cordele Banking Center Lobby
1620 East 16th Avenue, Cordele, GA 31015
Friday, February 13
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Book Signing Details: Copies of Karter Jane’s heartwarming story are available for $10. It’s a beautiful keepsake and a meaningful addition to any home library. Karter Jane would love to personally sign your copy as a special thank you for your support. We invite you to stop by, meet Karter Jane, hear her story, and celebrate a young author whose heart for others is already making a lasting impact.
Karter Jane’s story is one that began with a lost stuffed sloth—and grew into a mission of compassion, generosity, and faith.
In Sloth Goes to Savannah, Karter Jane shares her real-life adventure of losing her beloved stuffed sloth and the two men experiencing homelessness whose kindness brought him safely back. This true story reminds readers—young and old—that love and goodness can be found in every corner of the world.
When Karter Jane lost her stuffed sloth, “Slosh,” during a family trip to Savannah, she was heartbroken. Slosh had been with her since she was a baby and traveled everywhere by her side. After hours of searching with no luck, it seemed her friend was gone for good.
Determined to help, her dad, Kenny, took one last walk through the city and encountered two men who spoke of a “little friend that always smiles.” That friend turned out to be Slosh—found in a park and lovingly cared for by the men, who willingly returned him without asking for anything in return.
What followed changed everything. Moved by their kindness, the Smith family shared the story online and raised more than $1,600 in less than twelve hours. The next day, they searched Savannah to find the men again—delivering the funds, heartfelt thanks, and new stuffed sloths of their own.
Inspired by this experience, Karter Jane wrote Sloth Goes to Savannah to share her journey and raise awareness for those facing homelessness. Since then, she and her family have continued returning to Savannah to deliver supplies, encouragement, and hope—one person at a time.
In January 2026, Karter Jane donated a signed copy of her book to the Georgia Watermelon Association, where it was auctioned for $1,900, a powerful reminder of how far one small story can reach. Her journey was also featured by WALB News, sharing how one missing stuffed animal sparked a mission rooted in kindness and faith: https://www.walb.com/2026/01/22/how-one-missing-stuffed-animal-inspired-change/
