Sears Hometown Store in Albert Lea isn’t hosting just any holiday sale this weekend.

It’s hosting a sale to benefit local children.

On Saturday, 2 percent of the net sales at Sears in Albert Lea will be donated back to The Children’s Center in Albert Lea.

According to the store’s new owner, Richard King, he chose The Children’s Center because he believes in helping advance the education of children.

“It seems like they are doing a pretty good job for Albert Lea and the children,” he said.

Kim Nelson, director at The Children’s Center, said the funds will be used for indoor equipment and to help support the center’s sliding fee scale.

She said the center was surprised about being chosen as the recipient.

“We didn’t solicit them at all, they approached us,” she said.

She also appreciated the fact that King, and Sears, see the value of the service the center is providing to the community.

“We always feel like we’re asking for help with things, so for someone to identify us as a place worthy of this type of support was exciting and reinforces what we’re trying to do here,” Nelson said.

The Children’s Center provides child care services to about 200 children at two locations in Albert Lea, and employs around 35 people. It uses a creative curriculum system that strives to stimulate children’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.