At 76 years old and counting, it’s no surprise that traditions are important to what is officially known as the Press Herald Toy Fund in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts.

The basic idea behind the annual gift drive hasn’t changed since 1949, when a Portland newspaper columnist using the pen name Bruce Roberts first asked readers to pitch in to buy toys and bring joy to children during a difficult holiday season.

A favorite annual tradition at the Toy Fund is reconnecting with many of the same faithful friends year after year. 

Volunteers return each fall to begin the preparations and share in the joy of distributing the toys and books each December.

And donations and messages from longtime supporters arrive like holiday cards, a welcome reminder that some important things endure even in a world of constant change.

The 12 children of Harry and Lois Carlin — they are known as the 12Cs — sent donations again this year, carrying on their parents’ generous legacy. The elder Carlins began donating many decades ago and passed on the spirit of giving to the kids, referred to by their farmer father as his best crop.

Stephen Askin kept up his own generous tradition this year by making another in a string of $10,000 donations — a gift that will be a huge help as the fund scrambles to meet a surge of demand for assistance. Askin, a retired veterinarian from Kennebunk inspired by the fond memories of his own magical childhood Christmases, made the donation in memory of his parents, Joan and Ron; his brother, Keith; and his uncle John. 

And it wouldn’t be the same without hearing from the Women’s Riverside Golf Association, which sent in a pile of checks this year totaling $1,980 (a new club record). The members gather for a holiday celebration each December, and fortunately for a whole lot of Maine children, they long ago decided to pitch in to support the Toy Fund instead of swapping gifts with each other.

There are so many more familiar names and messages that arrive with donations large and small.

Dorothy Kelleher continued her tradition of being among the first, if not the first, to send a check each year.

Liam and Amelia Odlin made their traditional annual donation in honor of their Scarborough school bus driver, Carl Ivers.

And donors continued to honor the memories of many longtime Toy Fund supporters and community angels who shared the magic of the holidays, including Henrietta “Henty” LaRou, James Wallace, Jeanne Mayberry and Alan Hawkins.

Such long-held donation traditions are a big reason the Toy Fund has delivered holiday joy to generations of children since 1949, in good times and bad.

And new traditions are begun each year, offering hope that the effort will stick around to help many more.

Anyone making an online donation to the Toy Fund through Friday 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:

• $315.94: In honor of Richard and Evelyn Tonneson — Merry Christmas — Love, Mary, Beth and Tim — Beth Fossett
• $105.52: St. Praters — Anonymous
• $315.94: Anonymous
• $31.88: Courtney Roach
• $52.92: In memory of Harold & Jo Richardson — Anonymous
• $73.96: In memory of Timothy, David and Melanie — Linda Williams
• $52.92: In memory of Rupie & Millie Richardson — Anonymous
• $52.92: In memory of Estelle Snell — Anonymous
• $105.52: Happy holidays to all the people who make up our community! — Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $105.52: You are loved! Belmont Street Family — John Robinson
• $105.52: As someone who was once a child, I hope this gift makes a child happy today. —Anonymous
• $21.36: Merry Christmas — Fulton Family
• $263.34: In loving memory of Pappou Nick, who supported Bruce Roberts every holiday season — Fulton Family
• $105.52: Dan & Ellen Richards
• $105.52: Fulton Family
• $42.40: Ellen Steinbart and Dan Possumato
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $263.34: Paul Muscat
• $31.88: Here’s to kids having fun. Happy holidays to all — Alice Adams & Liz Winfeld
• $100.00: Sandi Radis
• $50.00: Every child should get a toy — Judy W.
• $105.52: Happy Holidays! — Heather & Page Thompson
• $100.00: In loving memory of our grandmother, Ruth Osgood, who loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren — Dakers Family
• $105.52: In memory of Bumpa — Anonymous
• $200.00: David and Amy Boyce
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $210.73: In memory of Frank and Helen McDonald — Anonymous
• $105.52: Bob Libby
• $250.00: To the kiddos from BK, DK, Jase, Trav, Lex, Danielle, Coop, Piper, Parker, AJ, Gunny and Falafel Kroot. — Jason Kroot
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $105.52: Charlie Woodworth — Merrie Woodworth
• $10,521.09: In memory of Joan, Ron, Keith and John Askin — Steve Askin
• $52.92: Jean and Mick — Michael McGinn
• $105.52: Steve Askin
• $52.92: Steve Askin
• $210.73: Happy Holidays from Cal — Steve Askin
• $31.88: Gayle Jones and Fred Servello
• $105.52: Carol MacLeod
• $105.52: From Tommy and Ryan — John Sullivan
• $263.34: Patti and Malcolm Poole
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $21.36: Anonymous
• $210.73: In memory of my parents Ted & Doris Cook, long-time volunteers and supporters of the Toy Fund — Mary G. Cook
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $10.84: Matt Fulton
• $26.62: Merry Christmas. Fulton Family — Elizabeth Fulton
• $52.92: Merry Xmas! — Anonymous
• $52.02: Merry Christmas — Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $52.92: Merry Christmas to you. In memory of Marguerite Bernier — Anonymous
• $210.73: In loving memory Mary L. Peterson, Dorothy F. Connor and Lynne L. Steiner — Anonymous
• $52.92: Cary and Rob Johnson
• $105.52: Jeannie and David — Edward Gallant
• $158.13: Soley & Gallace Family — Todd Dominski
• $158.13: Anonymous
• $210.73: Anonymous
• $52.92: In memory of Christine Kawryga. We love and miss you, Chris. Like you’ll never know — Larry Hanney
• $526.35: Merry Christmas to the children — Jeff and Judy Kane
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $52.92: In memory of Diane Bell — Anonymous
• $105.52: Merry Christmas! — Anonymous
• $52.92: Sara Litt
• $105.52: In memory of Chris Foley. Joe, Donna, Patrick and Jacqueline — Donna Young
• $105.52: All children should experience some holiday magic! — Anonymous
• $105.52: George and Deanna Hunter
• $105.52: In memory of Maurice, Vera & Ron. Bo & Tina — Stephen Miller
• $263.34: Anonymous
• $52.92: In honor of Matt and Evelyn Barron, co-founders of the toy drive — David Donovan
• $52.92: In memory of Albert and Dorothy Nelson. — Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $21.36: Anonymous
• $315.94: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone! — Derek Berg
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $500.00: In memory of Pawpaw. Cailee, Alyssa, Tyler, Tatum, Hawk and Boden — Nicholas Papin
• $52.92: In honor of the Soley/Gallace Family — Charlie Ammann
• $52.92: In memory of the Lamarre and Gaudreau families — Rachel Lamarre

Year to date total: $144,642.75.