People who donate to support the Wareham Free Library in the next month will see their donations doubled, thanks to a matching grant pledged by cranberry grower A.D. Makepeace Company.

A.D. Makepeace Company will match up to $10,000 in donations made to the library between now and Friday, April 9, according to Liz Wiley, president of the Wareham Library Foundation.

“We have the potential to bring in $20,000,” because donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar, Wiley said.

The matching grant — timed so it ends on the Friday of National Library Week — will help the library’s fundraising organizations raise the additional money needed to operate the library at the level residents are accustomed to. 

Without the necessary funding, the library could be forced to cut down its hours, and patrons could lose the ability to borrow books, DVDs and other materials from nearby libraries.

Although the library is town-owned and operated, the town only provides 80 percent of the library’s operating budget. 

Two fundraising organizations contribute the rest of the money to the library: the Wareham Library Foundation and the Friends of the Wareham Free Library.

The Foundation and Friends have until the end of the fiscal year on June 30 to raise the remaining 20 percent of the library’s operating budget, which is approximately $80,000. 

As of March 12, Wiley said about $25,600 had been raised for the “Bridge the Gap” fundraiser so far.

The organizations’ fundraising efforts this year have been stymied by the pandemic, which forced the cancellation of several events like the Foundation’s annual play and dinner with an author.

Wiley and Library Director George Ripley have both said that without the additional funding, the library could lose the certification that allows it to participate in the SAILS Network or be forced to limit its operating hours and reduce its staff. The SAILS Network, which the library currently participates in, is a program that enables libraries in Southeastern Massachusetts to share resources including books and other materials. 

Wiley said the Foundation was incredibly grateful to A.D. Makepeace Company for recognizing the importance of supporting the library. 

“This makes all the difference for us to be able to keep operating at the level that the town wants, expects and deserves,” Wiley said, thanking the company for its generous contribution.

Residents can donate using the “donate” button on the Foundation’s website at www.supportwarehamlibrary.org. Alternatively, checks can be mailed to Wareham Library Foundation, P.O. Box 485, East Wareham, MA 02538.

This story has been updated to reflect that approximately $25,600 have been raised for the fundraiser as of March 12.