A mother from Cumberland County is usually the one helping others. She’s even made a career of it.

But, this year, it’s her own family that needs a hand.

“I work as a case manager supporting children with autism and their families,” she wrote to the Press Herald Toy Fund. “Every day I see the challenges that families face and do my best to connect them with resources, encouragement, and stability. My family and I often try to give back by helping others in our community whenever we can, donating clothes, toys, and our time to families who are struggling.”

She is one of many helpers who have turned to the Toy Fund this year. They are generous souls, focused more on helping others than pursuing lucrative careers and building up big bank accounts. In the past, the good work they do has also paid their bills. Not this year.

“This year we have found ourselves in a difficult spot. The cost of living has continued to rise and unexpected expenses have made it hard to make ends meet,” the Cumberland County mother wrote. 

“I have a 7-year-old daughter who is full of energy, curiosity, and love, and as parents we want to make sure she still experiences the joy and magic of the holidays even in hard times. 

“It is not easy to ask for help when we are used to being the ones giving it, but the Toy Fund offers families like ours a sense of hope and relief. 

“Any support we receive would mean so much and would help us give our daughter a warm and joyful holiday season.”

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.

Anyone making an online donation to the Toy Fund through Dec. 19 will be entered to win four tickets to Portland Ovations’ “Recycle Percussion” show on Jan. 22 at Merrill Auditorium.

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:

• $50.00: Susan J. Taylor
• $100.00: For the kids. Merry Christmas — Deb & Rick Abbondanza
• $500.00: In loving memory of Anna Trouvalis — C. G. Trouvalis
• $200.00: Merry Christmas — Eugene W. & Jeanne M. King
• $250.00: In memory of Seth Jordan from Nancy & Zeke — Living Trust of Robert K. Jordan
• $100.00: W. N. & P. R. Burbank
• $100.00: Sarah S. & Daniel W. Drake
• $50.00: Brayden, Ava, Will & Harper — Robert & Janet DeVinney
• $200.00: Judy & David Kelly
• $50.00: In memory of Lora A. Lemanski. Adam, Luke, Frank — Frank A. Lemanski
• $50.00: Anita F. & John F. Colpitts
• $300.00: In loving memory of David and Jean Lowell and Stephen Lowell — Bruce A. Lowell
• $100.00: Anonymous
• $100.00: In memory of Patrick — Thomas McGonagle
• $52.92: In loving memory of Laurie K. Small — Jean & Peter
• $210.73: For the kids. — Dick & Mary Marsh
• $42.40: Anonymous
• $210.73: All kids should have toys on Christmas. Deidre and Charlie — Charles Hamblen
• $52.92: Don & Anne Staples
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $42.40: In memory of John and Nancy Hurst and Dan Hurst. Tyler, Rachael, Emilie and Abbie — Tyler Barter
• $105.52: In memory of baby James Philip Neaton. Neaton, Keene, Perkins and Noel Families — Lori Perkins
• $100.00: Gary Thorne
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $105.52: Brian & Carol Keroack
• $526.35: Anonymous
• $52.92: Happy Holidays — The Patashniks
• $105.52: Happy Christmas — Richard & Rita
• $210.73: In memory of our great friend, Bill — Kap & Barbara Powers
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $105.52: Frank and Nancy Fowles
• $315.94: Anonymous
• $21.36: Routhier Family of South Portland
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $105.52: In memory of Jamison ONeil — Anonymous
• $105.52: In memory of Kathy ONeil — Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $105.52: Mary Chris Semrow
• $158.13: On behalf of our grandchildren — Dick Curry & Ellen Honan
• $42.40: Sending lots of love. Santa — Steve Bailer
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $315.94: In honor of Richard and Evelyn Tonneson —Merry Christmas — Love, Mary, Beth and Tim — Beth Fossett
• $21.36: Anonymous
• $52.92: In memory of all the years my wonderful husband, Lorenzo, and I worked together at the Toy Fund — Lynn Raffa
• $105.52: Christmas joy to all! — Anonymous
• $105.52: In memory of my family and friends who have passed away — Anonymous
• $52.92: In memory of Marie and Ernie Brien. Merry Christmas to all the children — Kathie and Warren Giering
• $158.13: In memory of John & Germaine Dorazio, who loved Christmas — Anonymous
• $105.52: Willow and Mr. Little — Tux Turkel
• $2,525.30: Merry Christmas — From Matt, Kristen, Logan, Luke and Maizie — Matthew Wahrer
• $30.00: In memory of David Edward and David Richard Farnham — Anonymous
• $30.00: In memory of Thomas and Brett Cooper — Anonymous
• $105.52: Merry Christmas! Minew Marden — Debra Hartford
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $263.33: We all need one another. We all need love and encouragement and reminders about what really matters. We’re all doing the best we can. We all have the light and dark within us. There, but for the grace of God — Brett Astor
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $31.88: Cynthia E. Snow
• $500.00: In memory of Christina Palombo — Anonymous
• $100.00: Anonymous
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $105.52: Happy Holidays — Anonymous
• $42.40: Anonymous
• $21.36: Nancy Hodgdon
• $105.52: In loving memory of Brendan — Anonymous
• $20.00: Eric Fortney
• $105.52: Merry Christmas Nate and Natalia — Anonymous
• $100.00: In memory of Elizabeth Neault — Robert Neault
• $100.00: Anonymous
• $21.34: Kassie Kelly — Mary Kelly
• $158.13: In memory of Estelle Stirk and Paul Bonville. Merry Christmas — Anonymous
• $5,260.70: Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $79.22: From Maggie, Molly and the Girls — Anonymous
• $263.34: Judie and Rana Hosseini
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $105.52: Joanne & Bruce Johnston
• $105.52: In loving memory of Jeremy, who loved Christmas — Deb Georgitis
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $105.52: In loving memory of Bunny Murphy, who loved children — Anonymous
• $105.52: In loving memory of Gretchen Reiche Terhune and Dick Terhune. Susannah Squirrel — Peter Terhune
• $84.80: I was a kid once waiting on Santa. — Stephen Elrick
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $52.92: Meg Grimaldi
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $210.73: Happy Holidays! — Anonymous
• $31.88: Catherine Crute
• $315.94: Barbara and Karl Albrecht
• $52.92: In memory of Normand and Michelle Lemaire — Mary Lou Lemaire
• $210.73: Bruce & Suzanne Stillings
• $5.58: Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $52.92: Gina Kaufman
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $150.52: Merry Christmas Piper, Love Grumpy — Anonymous
• $210.73: K McGrath — Jessica McGrath

Year to date total: $81,277.16.