Waterville, Maine — Thursday, August 8, 2024 — As Marden’s Surplus & Salvage and Maine Children’s Home recognize their 60th and 125th milestones, they also celebrate a 20-year partnership of supporting Maine children in need. In 2004, the Marden’s family and customers began raising money for Maine Children’s Home’s Christmas / Winter Essentials Program, an effort that became the annual fundraiser, the Red Stocking Program around 2009. To date, the Marden family and Marden’s customers have raised $786,446 to support the work of Christmas / Winter Essentials Program.
The Maine Children’s Home staff presented a gift of cake and balloons to the Marden’s team on Wednesday, August 7, to celebrate Marden’s 60th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of their generous support.
“As a statewide business, it’s a part of Marden’s philosophy to give to children in need across Maine,” said Marden’s Co-owner Jake Marden. “The Christmas and Winter Essentials Program at Maine Children’s Home reaches the same communities that our stores reach. Over the years, we've seen the generosity of our customers who give back to kids in their communities through our Red Stocking Program fundraiser. We look forward to it every winter.”
Maine Children’s Home’s Christmas / Winter Essentials Program is the only one of its kind that provides brand new mittens, gloves, hats, boots, jackets, underwear, socks, a warm outfit, pajamas, toys, books, and games to more than 1,100 Maine children whose families are facing financial hardship. In 2024, the program is expanding to serve youth through the age of 17 (previously serving through age 12). The money raised by Marden’s helps keep this special program running.
The Red Stocking Program fundraiser begins the weekend after Thanksgiving each year at Marden’s stores. Marden’s customers can give to the fundraiser at checkout, and a paper red stocking will be displayed in the Marden’s store entryway for every donation received. In 2023, Marden’s customers raised $51,601 through the Red Stocking Program, and the Marden family contributed an additional $10,000 for a total of $61,601 to be used for the Christmas / Winter Essentials Program.
“We’re so grateful to the commitment of the Marden family, Marden’s employees, and customers,” said Christmas / Winter Essentials Program Director Amanda Simmons. “It’s our goal to provide meaningful, thoughtful, and high-quality gifts and essentials to children in need, to help them understand that they matter. Marden’s is a huge part of making that effort possible every year.”
More information about Marden’s community involvement including the Red Stocking Program can be found at www.mardens.com/community-involvement.