SPRINGFIELD, – More than $11,000 was recently donated too Dakin Humane Society, collected from coins tossed by visitors into the in-store moat at Yankee Candle Village between 2019 and June 2025.
Coins from CandleS Moat Benefit Animals
A decades-long tradition of giving sees more than $11,000 in tossed coins find a new purpose at an animal shelter.
- Yankee Candle Village’s moat donation reached over $11,000.
- The funds come from coins collected between 2019 and June 2025.
- The tradition, started in 1994 by founder Mike Kittredge, supports animals.
- A team of 40 volunteers cleaned and sorted the coins.
- This act of generosity has spanned over 30 years.
The extraordinary sum was amassed from coins tossed into the moat located adjacent to the Bavarian village within Yankee Candle Village. These funds, now earmarked for Dakin Humane Society, will support the animals, programs, and services offered by the organization.
Did you know? – The tradition of collecting coins from the Yankee Candle Village moat began in 1994. Founder Mike Kittredge, an animal lover, initiated the practice. The funds have consistently benefited Dakin Humane Society for over three decades.
Jeff Palmer, Sales and Operations manager, and Ben Ware, Property and Guest Services manager, transported the coins from South Deerfield to Dakin’s springfield location. Ware’s team was instrumental in cleaning the moat and carefully removing the coins.
at Dakin, a dedicated team of 40 volunteers spent nearly four weeks meticulously cleaning and sorting the coins by denomination before preparing them for deposit at the bank. While the final total is still being confirmed by the bank, the preliminary amount signifies a significant contribution.
This donation continues a heartwarming tradition that began in 1994. Mike Kittredge,the founder of Yankee Candle,was a known animal lover. He established the practice of directing the moat money to Dakin, a commitment that has benefited countless animals.
The collection and delivery of these coins were a yearly ritual until the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the process in 2020. Palmer expressed the company’s sentiment, stating, “At yankee Candle Village, we believe in giving back to the community that has supported us for so many years. It’s a privilege to partner with and support Dakin Humane Society in their mission to care for animals and enrich lives.”
Reader question: – What othre community initiatives do you think Yankee Candle Village could support? What local organizations would benefit from similar partnerships? Share your thoughts on how businesses can give back.
Meg Talbert, executive director of dakin Humane Society, highlighted the synergy between the two organizations.”Our valued partnership reflects the similarity found in our work,” Talbert said. “yankee Candle creates products th
