A donation of any amount will go a long way.

Because Mar-Val is going to double it.

Escalon’s Mar-Val Main Street market is one of seven Mar-Val stores around the region and all are cooperating in an effort to raise $20,000 for Habitat for Humanity. With a matching donation from the Mar-Val corporation, a total of $40,000 would be donated to help victims of the Butte Fire rebuild their homes and lives.

“We are taking donations for the Butte Fire victims,” said Escalon Mar-Val store manager Brian Baumbach. “One hundred percent of the donations are going right to the effort, anything that our customers donate, we will match that, there are no overhead, no administrative costs.”

Donations had topped the $6,000 mark among the seven stores by late last week and Baumbach said the drive will continue until the $20,000 goal is reached, for Mar-Val to match that amount. The $40,000 will be put to use for those most seriously impacted by the Butte Fire.

Along with the Escalon location, Mar-Val has stores in Valley Springs, Colfax, Georgetown, Prather, Pleasanton and Groveland.

“We have fliers up on the front door, people are learning about it through word of mouth,” Baumbach added.

Every amount is welcome, from a dollar up to however much shoppers want to give.

Customers donating get to write their name on a card that is placed at the register, showing their support for the effort.

“Our checkers are also letting people know about it and asking if they want to donate,” said Baumbach.

There is no official ‘end date’ for the effort, either, the store manager added.

“Not until we reach our goal,” he said.

The Butte Fire, which impacted Calaveras and Amador counties, burned nearly 71,000 acres and destroyed  more than 800 buildings.