SKOWHEGAN – New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. plans to contribute $1 million to disaster-relief efforts in New York and Washington.

Sen. Susan Collins was visiting the Maine plant Wednesday to thank the company for a recent donation of $255,000 worth of shoes, boots, socks and jackets for rescue workers in New York, when she learned of the donation.

“This kind of support is so important, I’m proud of New Balance,” Collins told the Waterville Morning Sentinel. “We do need everyone’s strength; it’s remarkable how Mainers and everyone are supporting the efforts.”

Sheldon Kilkenny, division manufacturing manager at New Balance, said the Boston-based company decided to donate the money and shoes after it learned that rescue workers were getting only about three hours of use out of their work boots. Kilkenny said boots were being pierced by shards of glass and the soles of shoes and boots were melting from the intense heat at the attack sites.

Other Maine donors range from micro-businesses to global firms like L.L. Bean and Poland Spring Bottling Co. Bean has given away hundreds of blankets, boots, shirts and booties used by dogs at the World Trade Center ruins. Poland Spring has provided water for workers at the attack sites.

Falcon Shoe of Lewiston is also providing footwear for workers who are removing debris.

Nooksack Racing Supply of Oxford is donating dog booties to keep search canines from cutting their feet on broken glass and metal.

John Osmond and Amy Dugan of Mountain Ridge Kennels in Shirley donated 500 dog booties and a number of wrist wraps to protect dog paws and legs.

John Butera of Maine’s Business Development Office commended those and other companies for their gestures of unity and support.