Merrell President, Sue Rechner, said in a statement: “It’s important to us that we show the parks and those who maintain them how much we appreciate and value them. As a brand born on the trail, we are deeply connected to our National Park System and it’s without question that we’re supporting the parks community during this government shutdown.

“Merrell has made a 25 000 US dollars pledge to the National Park Foundation, the official non-profit partner of the National Park Service. This donation will support the National Park Foundation’s Parks Restoration Fund, helping to repair parks as quickly as possible once the government reopens. We encourage everyone to consider joining us to meet the critical needs of our national parks and maintain these incredible recreational, cultural, and historic places. In addition to partnering with the National Park Foundation, Merrell is proud to announce that once the shutdown ends and park staff are able to assess park needs, we will dispatch employees to help parks with trail clean-ups and other projects. For those interested in volunteering, they can sign up here to receive updates about how to lend a hand once the government reopens.”