Superheroes , especially super-smart ones like Jariyon Allen, need some place to put their savings when they take a break from saving the world.

At least, that's what M&F President James Sills hopes.

Jariyon, 6, was one of scores of young people and their parents who ignored cloudy skies and rain to attend the bank's 20th annual Community Appreciation Day at its branch on Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham Saturday.

The kids - and more than a few adults - got their faces painted and dined on hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, macaroni & cheese and other scrumptious fare, in addition to receiving information on savings and checking accounts and other banking services.

Ray Frederick brought his internationally renowned Bouncing Bulldogs jump rope team to provide entertainment.

"We don't care if it does rain," Frederick said as light raindrops kept falling on his head. "We're going to jump."

The 112-year-old bank began setting aside a day to show its appreciation to the community, Sills said, because "M&F is a community bank with a tremendous history and legacy and commitment to service. We understand that you will not be successful unless you engage the community and give back to make it better.

"We have a different giveaway theme every year," he said. "Last year, we gave away school supplies, including a laptop computer."

Jariyon proudly showed off his new book bag filled with school supplies. His face was painted to resemble The Flash, the DC Comics character who has mastery over not just speed, but time itself. He can also travel though different eras and into other dimensions.

One place this Flash won't be speeding to, though, is second grade. His great-grandmother, Audrey Rogers, said Jariyon's kindergarten teachers wanted him to start school in the second grade, but his mother and she refused.

"He's got plenty of time to grow up," Rogers said.

Before he does, though, Sills would be delighted if his parents and he open a youth savings account at M&F Bank.