While visiting her hometown last Friday, singer Natalie Merchant took time out to make donations in a show of support for several local youth programs.

According to the Associated Press, the former 10,000 Maniacs frontwoman announced her pledge during an appearance at a Boys and Girls Club in Jamestown, New York.

Merchant did not specify the dollar amount of her financial donation, which will help fund programs for pregnant teens at the Boys and Girls Club, as well as the city's YMCA and YWCA. Merchant says she was spurred to pitch in after hearing about how more than a dozen teens from Jamestown were exposed to the AIDS virus by a single person.

As we previously reported (see "Natalie Merchant Returns With New Album, Will Co-Headline Lilith Fair"), Merchant will release a new album, "Ophelia" on May 19, after which she will head out as part of the Lilith Tour that launches a month later in Portland, Oregon.