RUMFORD- Have you frequented a local business lately and found them dressed down in their comfortable jeans and wondered why? Well, More businesses are hopping on board to celebrate jeans Fridays by using the money employees pay for the dress down privilege to help support the ever-growing number of charities looking for support.

Advantage Insurance at 160 Congress Street and Franklin Savings Bank, located across the street at 155 Congress Street, are two such businesses.

The staff at Advantage Insurance wears jeans throughout the year on Fridays to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and are currently holding a raffle to add to those funds.

The raffle is for a lighted, decorated jar with a moose scene on the outside that was donated by Sista’s Creations. Anyone is welcome to visit their office during business hours and purchase one ticket for $1 or six tickets for $5. All proceeds will go to Make-A-Wish.

Tickets will be on sale until December 17. A winner will be drawn just in time for you to gift it for Christmas or keep it as your own.

Across the street, employees of the new River Valley Branch of Franklin Savings Bank have been wearing jeans on Fridays for years and helped support several charities along the way. Their current focus is raising money for Santa’s Helpers.

Each year employees bank-wide submit their ideas for which charities should be on the potential list of benefactors and then they vote to see which ones will be designated throughout the year.

Some of the other causes they support are SeniorsPlus, McKennel’s Animal Adoption Agency, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Relay For Life and supporting an active duty service member’s family during Thanksgiving or Christmas.

If your business offers employees opportunities to help certain organizations, please email [email protected] so we can share the great work you’re doing to benefit those in need.