Maine Children’s Home has been awarded a $35,000 grant from New Balance Foundation to improve and support the home’s holiday assistance program.

The grant will be used to cover operational expenses for reaching as many families as possible; making Christmas Program more responsive by connecting families to mental health and parenting supports; and updating the programs inventory systems and storage areas, according to a news release from the Waterville-based adoption agency.

“This grant will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Christmas Program,” said MCH Christmas Program Director Amanda Simmons. “Thanks to the support of New Balance, the program has expanded over the past two years to not only provide essential items to families in need, but to also provide families with social work supports that they may also need access to.”

For more than 60 years, Christmas Program has been providing winter essentials, clothing, toys, games and resources to more than 1,200 children whose families are facing financial hardship during the winter months.

New Balance Foundation has been a supporter of Christmas Program for more than 20 years, giving $568,661 over two decades, and providing extra, unsolicited support in 2020 during the start of the pandemic.

More information about Christmas Program can be found at mainechildrenshome.org.

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