The Press Herald Toy Fund’s volunteers know firsthand how grateful parents are to get help with holiday gifts.
They can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices when the parents come to pick up the books and toys for their children.
The donors who have also kept the Toy Fund going for 75 years never get to meet the parents or see the relief in their eyes. And the relieved parents don’t get to say thank you directly to the donors.
But many of the parents’ letters to the Toy Fund contain heartfelt notes of gratitude to all those who helped give their children a bit of joy for the holidays.
Here are just a few.
“This Christmas, I am facing the challenge of providing a joyful and fulfilling holiday season for my children,” wrote the mother of two young boys. “With access to toys and resources the Toy Fund can provide, I feel confident I will be able to give my children access to a normal feeling Christmas. I am thankful this resource is available so my kids won’t have to feel excluded this holiday season.”
“I’m a single parent of 4 wonderful children. This year has been challenging for us due to inflation and being the sole provider. I am in school for nursing and working as much as I can to provide for my children,” another mother wrote. “If chosen, the Toy Fund would not only bring immense relief to me, it would also bring great happiness to my children during this difficult time. Your generosity would help provide gifts, warmth and a sense of normalcy to our holiday celebration. I’m grateful for any type of support … Thank you.”
“It’s been a struggle to keep joy and happiness (in my home) and anyone’s help is just a blessing and it’s amazing,” a Cumberland County mother of a two wrote. “Bless all the people with a heart who want to help. I surely could use all the help we can get and it’s very much appreciated! Thank you so much.”
And a mother in the Midcoast with two daughters and a son wrote that the Toy Fund has been a huge help to her family because of a disability that keeps her from working as much as she wants to.
“I’ve been a single parent for a lot of years. My focus is on my children. I work hard but I still fall short,” she wrote. “This program has been a godsend the last few years. My children and I are extremely grateful and I look forward to the day I’m able to donate. God bless!”
HOW TO HELP
To make a donation online, go to pressherald.com/toy-fund.
Checks made out to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund may be mailed to 295 Gannett Drive, South Portland ME 04106.
Names of donors are published in the Press Herald unless a donor wishes to remain anonymous.
TODAY’S DONATIONS
In memory of Clarence, Phyllis and Jeffrey Smith, Stephen R. & Margaret M. Smith $100
In loving memory of Emmons and Joan Johnson from Phyllis, John and Family $200
In loving memory of Jane E. Quirk and Quirkie from Phyllis $150
In loving memory of Larry Hart from The Hart, Day and Johnson Families $150
Peggy Waterman & Family $1,000
In memory of my husband, Pat Gribbon, Anne Gribbon $100
Robert & Suzanne Turkington. $100
Merry Christmas! John J. & Joan Voyer $100
Books, toys, peace and love! Barbara E. Gauditz $1,000
David & Sandra L. Dickson $100
In loving memory of my mother, Martha N. Roberts, Elizabeth G. Roberts $50
Mark W. Kingston $350
For Robert Pettengill. The Family $50
For Alice & Bill. The Family $50
Pat & Andy, Oliver Andrews III $50
To those less fortunate – Merry Christmas! Finnegan, Abbie, Declan and Julia $50
Jerome M. Brown $50
Anonymous $100
In honor of volunteers Jan & Don Bancroft. Anonymous $50
Jeanne & Daniel L. Ouellette $100
In memory of Steven & Janice, Robert Chamberlain $100
From Pop Ronald A & Joanne B Edwards $30
Richard M. & Janine A. Parker $100
In memory of Seth Jordan, Nancy Jordan $150
Patti & Malcolm Poole $105.52
In loving memory of Eleanor Goodwin, Anonymous $52.91
Greg and Amanda Brown $105.52
Wrigley sez HI! Anonymous $105.52
Anonymous $105.52
Sharon Dulac and David Dyer $105.52
Merry Christmas from Lucien and Sadie $26.61
Best Holiday wishes to all, from Stella and the Super Girls of Noyes St. Mike DelTergo $263.33
This is something our God in Heaven wants you to have because He loves you very much! Merry Christmas, Priscilla and Alan Toth $52.91
Philip Palmer $52.91
Whitney and Maria Drake $210.73
Ellen & Mark Russell $105.52
Anonymous. $52.91
Anonymous $52.91
Anonymous $105.52
Anonymous $52.91
Anonymous $50.00
Anonymous $105.52
In loving memory of Jonathan and Jeffrey, Jillian Jakeman $21.35
Anonymous $105.52
Anonymous $52.91
Arlene Tanguay $105.52
In memory of our parents – we didn’t have a lot, but we always had Christmas. The children of John & Germaine Dorazio $210.73
In memory of Barbara Bolster, who loved Christmas. Catherine Nodine $52.91
Anonymous $105.52
In memory of Dan, Betty, Bruce and John Jenkins, Anonymous $105.52
Anonymous $105.52
Happy Holidays, Dina Jellison $52.91
In loving memory of Alice Davis-From Debbie & Mick,Deborah Cunningham $79.22
Barbara Seaver $52.91
Toys are for kids, Anonymous $105.52
Paul Morrissey and Jenifer Wikstrom $79.22
In memory of my husband Keith Harris, Mary Tracy $52.91
God bless us every one! Melissa and Rodger Cilley $105.52
Anonymous $52.91
May the season be filled with peace, love and joy. Mascannini Family $105.52
Anonymous $52.91
Lynn and Don Johnson $210.73
Ed Burke $52.91
Robin Cushman $105.52
Anonymous $52.91
In Memory of Fred Rogers – from a Neighbor. Don & Anne Staples $52.91
Doug Zlatin $26.61
Anonymous $52.91
Anonymous $105.52
Anonymous $52.91
In honor of all my grandchildren, Susan Stiker $52.91
No child should be without the joy of opening a gift. Thanks to all volunteers who make this work. Anonymous $105.52
Richard & Mary Marsh $105.52
Anonymous $210.73
Anonymous $210.73
In honor of Matt and Evelyn Barron, David Donovan $52.91
Frank and Nancy Fowles $105.52
Anonymous $158.12
Anonymous $105.52
Kathleen & Ken Pierce $263.33
We miss and love you Grampie, Anonymous $200
Anonymous $30
In memory of Bob & Margaret Anderson, Christina Anderson Benn $105.52
Bill Richardson $52.91
Caroline Bracci $52.91
D & B Wester $31.87
Tina Oddleifson $105.52
In honor of Harry and Lois Carlin from #11 of the 12 C’s, Anonymous $126.56
In loving memory of Joan and Aldo, Anonymous $52.91
Richard Kessler & Pamela Cox $263.33
#3 of the 12 C’s, Anonymous $105.52
Mimi Gough and Tim Reardon $105.52
In honor of Marie Fitzsimmons. Lynn Breckinridge and John Fitzsimmons $158.12
In honor of our 6 beautiful grandchildren. Terri and Rick Grover $52.91
Peter Haynes $52.91
In memory of Donna Ledoux. Lise Wagner $52.91
Thank you for all the gifts when I was a child. Forever grateful for all those memories growing up. Brian H. $21.35
In loving memory of Ann and Carl Smith, Blake McCartney $52.91
Anonymous $21.35
Anonymous $31.87
Adam Loranger $105.52
In loving memory of Joan Kincaid, Eric Herlan $100
Wishing all children a Merry Christmas! Barbara and Jay Bock $158.12
With love from the Micoleau family $105.52
In memory of our son, Jonathan Michael Sawyer. Peter and Joy Sawyer $526.35
TOTAL TO DATE: $65,389.58
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