Marsh Supermarkets is lending its support to a local family-owned bread and bakery supplier’s effort to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as a part of its annual Aunt’s Day campaign.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Aunt Millie’s donated over $40,000 TO Make-A-Wish as a result of making 1-cent contributions for every loaf of bread sold between Feb. 15 and March 14, 2009. The Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets -- which operates 99 Marsh Supermarkets and five O’Malia’s Food Markets in Indiana and Ohio -- made a matching gift of 1 cent for every loaf of Aunt Millie’s bread sold in its stores during the same time period, which raised an additional $834 in contribution for THE charitable children’s foundation.

Aunt Millie’s marketing director Melissa Dunning said customer support for its annual Aunt’s Day campaign exceeded expectations, contributions from which will be split among Make-A-Wish Foundation chapters in Aunt Millie’s territories of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.

A representative for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana said the generous gift will enable the organization “to grant several wishes and bring hope to children facing uncertain futures.”