Norwich – When retired women’s advocate Carol Croteau founded Maria’s Treasures thrift store in Taftville, she said she was starting with “a real leap of faith” to provide low-cost household goods for low-income families, pay the rent and bills and have enough left over to make donations to help local families in need.

Maria’s Treasures, a nonprofit store at 509 Norwich Ave. in the end building in the historic Ponemah Mill complex, celebrated its second anniversary this past Christmas. On Thursday the governing organization, Friends of Maria, made good on the group’s goal to invest its profits back into the community.

Friends of Maria announced it will donate $1,000 each to three schools in Taftville to help local families pay for school uniforms and possibly other immediate needs. Croteau, who titled herself “Friend-in-Chief” of the all-volunteer organization, made the first check presentation Thursday to the Head Start preschool program run by the Thames Valley Council for Community Action.

In the coming weeks, Friends of Maria are set to make $1,000 donations to Sacred Heart Catholic school and the Wequonnoc public elementary school – the schools are across from each other on Providence Street in Taftville – to help families pay for uniforms and other needs.

Croteau, who retired in 2007 as founder and executive director of Bethsaida Inc., said she is confident TVCCA and staff at the two schools are intimately aware of the families in need within their walls. She said children can feel ashamed or targeted by bullies if they don’t have the proper clothes going to school, so helping to meet that basic need will be Friends of Maria’s first goal.

“It’s been a case of a slow build,” Croteau said. “We were paying our bills, and now we have a modest surplus. We don’t want the money just sitting there.”

TVCCA Executive Director Deborah Monahan welcomed the donation on behalf of the more than 50 children at the Taftville Head Start program.

“That’s just wonderful,” Monahan said. “In these times of really shrinking resources, for one entity, such as Friends of Maria, to support another nonprofit, TVCCA, and our Head Start program, is really heartwarming."

Monahan said the staff use what grants and donations they can obtain to help families with needs such as fuel assistance, housing, medical co-payments and one-time emergencies such as car repairs.

“Sometimes families can’t afford the school uniforms,” Monahan said. “We’re always looking for ways to help the families with school uniforms for whatever schools they will be going to.”

Croteau said Maria's Treasures could expand its donations to other local nonprofit agencies once it rebuilds its surplus account. The thrift store always is seeking donations of furniture, clothing, shoes, household goods and toys. The store is open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (860) 889-1100.

c.bessette@theday.com