“New England Stockings of Joy,” a program to share the joy of giving with local charitable and other non-profit organizations, during the Christman holiday season, has been announced by Maine National Bank.

The program allows customers and employees to fill stockings with gifts. The stockings are donated to local organizations such as homeless shelters and day-care centers. In Greater Bangor, organizations include the Neighborhood Club, the Salvatin Army, Operation lift-off, the Brewer Kiwanis Underprivileged Children’s Christmas Party; the Pittsfield Christian Project, and The Giving Tree.

In the days before Christmas, Maine National Bank’s branch managers, Beth Carr, Betsy Ashe, Darcel Bryant, Linda Colbath, Kay Prescott, John Thayer and Claudette Tasker will present the stockings to the groups for distribution.

Wayne C. McGarvey, bank president, said, “These are very challenging times for all of us. Maine National Bank is proud to be part of an organization that brings the entire community together to help the less fortunate this holiday season in a practical and meaningful way.”

Posters on display in each branch list the organizations receive stockings and some suggested gifts.

People who want to donate may take a stocking home, fill it and return it to the branch. The stockings will be distributed to the local organizations during the week of Monday, Dec. 17.