BATH

Last year, the people at Rogers Ace Hardware decided to include the Make-A-Wish Foundation in its customer appreciation day.

The results were good — the silent auction raised about $3,000 for this most worthy cause. So they’re doing it again on Saturday, Sept. 22.

“We’re hoping to do more,” said John Hichborn, owner of Rogers Ace Hardware. “From our standpoint, we believe that a wish granted to a child can make somebody’s life better who is truly in dire straits.”

This year, the silent auction at Rogers will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

But the Make-A-Wish effort will begin even earlier, when the store opens at 7. Rogers will be selling environmentally friendly, reusable bags and donating 20 percent of those proceeds to the foundation.

What’s even better for the customers, most items in the store that are not on special, and are placed in those bags, will be sold at 20 percent off.

Hichborn said that local merchants and individuals have donated items for the silent auction. All are contributing to this great effort to provide some happiness for ill children, and for their families.

“I’ve been to many of their annual meetings and talked to youngsters who were elated, for example, to meet Mickey Mouse,” Hichborn said. “This is an opportunity for people to make donations.”

lgrard@timesrecord.com

¦ THE MAINE CHAPTER of the Make-A-Wish Foundation opened in 1992. As of March 2012, it had granted more than 1,025 wishes. This year, the organization expects to grant the greatest wish of more than 75 seriously ill Maine children, which is an average of one wish every five days. The average cost of a wish is $6,000. All wish expenses are fully covered, including travel and spending money. The objective is to provide the child and family with a worry-free experience. For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact Eileen Chretien at 221- 2306, or [email protected].

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