The volunteers and donors who have kept the Press Herald Toy Fund going for 76 years do so without ever seeing the smiles on the faces of the children when they open the gifts.

But the volunteers are lucky enough to see the relief and gratitude on the faces of parents when they pick up the bags of toys and books. It’s always a highlight of their holiday season.

Pickups began this week at the South Portland workshop. Over the next couple weeks, hundreds of families will pull into the pickup line, where they are greeted by a volunteer who checks their paperwork and ID before heading inside to pack up their order. 

Volunteers check and double-check to make sure the gifts are appropriate for the age and gender of every child.

Carol Semple, who started volunteering after retiring from the Portland Press Herald, said it’s always fun to make sure families have gifts for their children — and she gets gift ideas for her own grandchildren as she packs bags of toys. 

Kathy Camire, a volunteer who this year joined the Toy Fund board of directors, was excited to hand out bags of gifts Thursday. 

As the first few cars lined up, she welcomed a parent, jotted the family’s name on a slip of paper and headed back inside to pack their gifts into a festive red bag. 

It’s a day she looks forward to all year. 

“You finally get to meet people,” Camire said as she picked up gifts for a young girl. “They are always so appreciative.”

This year, the Toy Fund received applications for more than 4,800 children.

Because of the generosity of donors and the hard work of the volunteers, each child will receive several gifts, as well as a book chosen by a team of volunteers passionate about literacy.

The Toy Fund uses the donations of 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:

• $126.56: In memory of Harry and Lois Carlin. — Paula Pock
• $52.92: Merry Christmas. Margo & Jim — James Conley
• $315.94: Anonymous
• $105.52: Wishing all children a very Merry Christmas filled with lots of fun! — Anonymous
• $52.92: With gratitude for the joy brought to families by the Toy Fund — Anonymous
• $105.52: Bill Morrell
• $105.52: Thank you for this, it is so critical for those most in need. Tara and RJ — Tara Walker
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $26.62: Mark Silver
• $79.22: In memory of granddaughter Emily and Lany. — S. Benoit & K. Weatherbie
• $52.92: Anderson Family — Lauren Anderson
• $210.73: John and Lucinda Nugent
• $105.52: Merry Christmas — Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $10.84: To Mom and her ever present generous spirit — Anonymous
• $105.52: In loving memory of James D. Feeney — Anonymous
• $315.94: In memory of Martha & Bob Alexander, Maria & Bill Phillips and Jim Lunt. — Kathie Leonard & Steve Lunt
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $158.13: Tina Oddleifson
• $105.52: Nina de Rochefort
• $21.36: Anonymous
• $42.40: Happy Holidays! — Candice Dale
• $100: James and Elizabeth Maier
• $125: Anonymous
• $158.13: Anonymous
• $500: Ross LaJeunesse
• $210.73: From Jill & Ken — Kenneth Ryan
• $105.20: In memory of Sally and Leland Means — Anonymous
• $52.90: Merry Christmas! — Anonymous
• $105.52: Our children are our future and happy kids make it so much better!! — Keri C. Lord
• $158.13: Dick and Andrea Hall
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $105.52: Susan Robinson
• $52.92: Les Fleisher
• $100: Michael Hollyday and Susan O’Connor

Year to date total: $35,810.03.