AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA · 501(c)(3) NONPROFIT

Passing along the spirit of giving.

The Mertis Lee Harley Foundation honors the life of Ms. Mertis Lee Harley by meeting the needs of youth in Aiken, SC, with love, gratitude, and purpose. Our signature program, the Granny Box™, brings everyday essentials and a little extra love to children in her hometown.

Our story

A grandmother hugging her smiling granddaughter on a porch — Photos are illustrative.

Giving Tuesday · December 1, 2026 · … days to go

Donate

Downtown Aiken visitor maps sign. Aiken, SC: Where we grew up. Our turn to give back.

Why we exist

Nearly 3 in 10 children in the city of Aiken live in poverty.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Every child deserves to hear: you are seen, and you are loved.

So we started with something simple: a box packed the way a grandmother would pack it.

Learn why it matters

Flagship program

The Granny Box™

A box of essentials and comforts — blankets, books, school supplies, care items and a handwritten note — packed with the warmth of a grandmother's hug and delivered through schools and partners.

Every gift, any amount, helps fill a Granny Box.

See what's inside