Many of the children served by the Press Herald Toy Fund each year are experiencing some form of trauma — the kind that will stay with them well beyond the holiday season.
Parents turn to the Toy Fund to give them a bit of light in the darkness.
“This year has been unimaginably difficult for our family, and especially for my children as they navigate the emotional weight of their father’s terminal illness,” a mother wrote to the fund last month.
Along with the emotional weight of the illness itself, the lost income and medical expenses have left the mother unable to buy gifts.
“Due to our current financial hardships, we are struggling to make ends meet, and the thought of not being able to provide them with a Christmas is heartbreaking.
“Any support you could offer through your toy drive would bring much-needed light and happiness to them during this dark time. We would be incredibly grateful for your help.”
Thanks to the donors who support the fund, her son and daughter and more than 4,000 other children will have a little of that much-needed light and happiness to get through a dark time.
The Toy Fund uses the donations by newspaper readers to buy toys and books for kids up to 16 years old in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Androscoggin and Knox counties.
The Portland Press Herald and Lewiston Sun Journal publish lists of the donations along with stories about the holiday gift drive from Thanksgiving through the month of December.
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 and Lewiston Sun Journal unless a donor wishes to remain anonymous.
TODAY’S DONATIONS:
- $52.92: Ho Ho Ho from Rufus — Anonymous
- $52.92: Anonymous
- $105.52: Anonymous
- $105.52: Happy holidays to my wonderful spouse, Leslie! — Richard Fischer
- $105.52: Wayne Duffett
- $105.52: Anonymous
- $263.34: Merry Christmas! Happy and Nanna — James Eaton
- $263.34: All kids should have gifts at Christmas — Nancy & Jay Nelson
- $105.52: Happy Holidays! K, M, and F — Maggie Moynihan
- $52.92: Anonymous
- $52.92: Anonymous
- $50: Stephen Siket
- $31.88: Jane and Jim Newcomb
- $263.34: In honor of our grandchildren: Scott, Ian, Carver & Will — Pamela Cox & Richard Kessler
- $52.92: In memory of Mike Woodhead — Anonymous
- $210.73: From Molly and Finn — Susanne and Pete MacArthur
- $31.88: Anonymous
- $52.92: In honor of Zoe & Anna — Anonymous
- $105.52: Ho Ho Ho! from Wrigley — Anonymous
- $31.88: Merry Christmas! — Mary T.
- $52.92: In memory of our Christmas Angel, Adrienne Harris. We miss you. Love, Mom & Dad — Deborah Harris
- $210.73: Merry Christmas — Brock and Denise Kwiatkowsky
- $105.52: In loving memory of Grandma Dot from the Irish family — Anonymous
- $52.92: Happy Holidays — Anonymous
- $31.88: Welcome Christ into your home this Christmas — Anonymous
- $52.92: For Santa’s Sleigh! Love, Mike, Nugs and Ang — Angela and Mike Carleton
- $52.92: Anonymous
- $105.52: Anonymous
- $105.52: Merry Christmas to all! — Anonymous
- $300.00: Robin LaPlace & Jamie Lewis
- $184.43: Anonymous
- $105.52: In memory of Stephen Harris — Alison Harris
- $105.52: From Pug, Charlie and Marley — Anonymous
- $105.52: Michael & Lucretia Nelson
- $52.92: In memory of Donna Ledoux — Lise Wagner
- $105.52: In honor of Mighty Marty — The Kennedy/Jelescheff Family
- $21.36: Dawn & Kevin Cyr
- $52.92: Barbara Tufts
- $100: Merry Christmas! — Brad & Amanda Hunter
- $1,052.39: Hope it helps, very pleased to read that you include books for the children. That’s really important in our minds. — Marshall Cohen and Barbara Footer
- $100: Anonymous
- $210.73: Anonymous
- $55.52: In memory of Mom, Dad, Randy and Judy — Anonymous
- $50: In memory of Buckwheat, Cheetah-Bop, Zeus, Crouton, Murph the Surf, Sammy, Pugsly and Morgie Porgie — Anonymous
- $52.92: Anonymous
- $100: Woody & Debbie Simonds
- $100: Ian Brandon and Rachel Herter
- $105.52: With appreciation for the toy fund. Bill and Jane — Jane Mullen
- $105.52: Happy holidays from all the Downing families — Anonymous
- $210.73: Carol Ann
- $105.52: A Friend — Anonymous
- $52.92: In loving rememberance of Ann and George Johnson, and Gert and Frank Pooler. For the happiness of families at Christmas time!! — Glen and Karen Pooler
- $263.34: Katherine Crosson & Lynn Bailets
- $105.52: Keith Davis
- $315.94: Don and Lynn Johnson
- $526.35: In Memory of Bob and Elizabeth and their extended family. Steve — Stephen Booth
- $131.83: Happy Holidays! — Erica Bartlett
- $52.92: Anonymous
- $100: Happy Holidays! — Jay Melanson
- $158.13: In memory of the crew; Nate, Ricky and Mark. David — David Turitz
- $105.52: Christina Oddleifson
- $105.52: Anonymous
- $315.94: With Love! — Anna Crowley Redding, Crowley and Quinn Redding
- $52.92: Anonymous
- $31.88: In memory of Weez. The Jack Family — Tony Jack
Year to date total: $25,036.24.