Some children and their families are crowded into hotel rooms. Others are sleeping in campers or cars or squeezing into the apartments of family friends.

“We are staying in a camper as we got evicted four months ago due to finances,” a mother of four from York County wrote to the Press Herald Toy Fund. “We are working on insulating and heating a shed to have a place to call home until we can get back on our feet. I am working but still unable to make ends meet at this time.”

A mother of five from Androscoggin County wrote that they have been homeless and  “couch surfing” with various friends for much of the past year.

“It’s been really hard this past year for us. With all my other family members being deceased, it’s just me and my babies. Holidays are especially hard but we always will hold onto hope. We know God is good! And I believe as long as we’re patient he will make a way for us soon.”

A father from York County says he and his son are sharing a hotel room because they lost their apartment.

“I am fully employed and always have been,” he wrote. “We’re just in a rough spot where housing is concerned. I don’t have any spare money for gifts this year.”

A mother of four from the Midcoast wrote about the heartbreak of being homeless and what it would mean for her family to experience the wonder and magic of Christmas this year, even as they struggle to find housing.

“We went from having a stable home for 10 years to suddenly being homeless when our landlord decided to stop accepting Section 8 and raised the rent after remodeling,” she wrote. “Losing our home was devastating and it was heartbreaking trying to stay strong for my kids while not knowing where we’d end up next. …

“There were so many days when I felt completely defeated, but my kids kept me going. They are my reason for everything, and the way they still find joy in the smallest things reminds me that we can make it through anything. 

“We’re still rebuilding and trying to get back on our feet. Things are tight, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come. My kids have shown more strength and kindness than most adults I know. 

“Any help from the Toy Fund would truly mean the world to us — not just for the gifts, but for the reminder that there are still people out there who care, and that we’re not alone.”

The Toy Fund received many similar letters this year from families who will be without a home at the holidays. Thanks to the donors who support the fund, their families’ struggles will not mean they also have to miss out on the simple joy of unwrapping gifts.

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:

• $105.52: Zoe Miller
• $31.88: Lana and Jaylin LaPointe — James Adams
• $52.92: Merry Christmas from Bud and Laura Ellis — Robert Ellis
• $263.34: In memory of Marnie Dawson — Elena Schmidt
• $210.73: Bruce and Joan Kidman
• $105.52: #10 of the 12 C’s — Barbara LaVallee
• $26.62: In memory of Cooper, our sweet Golden — The Merrill-Ives Family
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $263.34: Anonymous
• $263.34: Anonymous
• $105.52: In memory of Connie & Janet Tripp — Anonymous
• $52.91: Anonymous
• $52.92: Peter and Ellen Wood
• $263.34: Mary and Lila Wellehan
• $105.52: To help the children of Maine who need it to have a special Christmas! Charlotte, Alex, CeCe, Jack, Sam and Beau! — David and Suzanne Reid and family
• $100.00: Anonymous
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $105.52: Merry Christmas to all! Santa-wanna-be — Carol Potter
• $315.94: Peace and good tidings. Stella and the Super Girls — Mike Deltergo
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $105.52: The Mitgangs
• $500.00: Anonymous
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $526.25: In memory of our Mother and Father, Henty & Phil LaRou, who loved Christmas and made sure that the joy of the Season was share with everyone. The LaRou Kids — Phillip LaRou Jr.
• $210.73: Don & Bev Esson
• $100.00: Anonymous
• $158.13: On behalf of our granddaughters Beatrice and Eloise, hoping a happy Christmas for every child — Bill Bogaert and Eugenia Zangas
• $105.52: In honor of Herbert and Dorothy Spencer and all the wonderful Christmases they gave me and my siblings — Pamela Doughty
• $1,050.00: Christmas wishes do come true! — Steve and Jane Martin
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $421.15: Robert Thomison & Lyn Andrews
• $105.52: In honor of our parents. — William Kowalczyk
• $42.40: To my mom that always made sure we had what we needed on Christmas. We miss you dearly — Brian Dobson
• $105.52: Heidi Wierman & Brian Daikh
• $50.00: Kristen Kinchla
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $105.52: Happy Holidays — Deb Henry
• $500.00: Anonymous
• $50.00: Thank you for this wonderful project! — Sam and Linda Saltonstall
• $105.52: Merry Christmas to one & all! Wishing you peace. — Denise Kallel
• $315.94: In loving memory of our son, Jonathan M. Sawyer — Peter and Joy Sawyer
• $52.92: In loving memory of Charlotte LaCrosse — Amanda Leque
• $421.15: Hugh & Skyler Reford — Rober Thomison
• $300.00: In memory of Joanne and Arthur LaRochelle (Nanny and Papa) — Anonymous
• $105.52: In loving memory of my son Web. From his Mom, Jill. — Jill Welch
• $315.94: In memory of Stanley Chase Allain — Kathy Allain
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $210.73: Karen & Chuck Strandberg
• $105.52: Rebecca Dreher
• $105.52: Alison Skoczenski
• $105.52: David Lloyd
• $105.52: Merry Holidays! — Sheila Pennock
• $105.52: The Law Family — Kara Law
• $20.00: Anonymous
• $52.92: In loving memory of Herb and Terry Partridge — Anonymous
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $210.73: Warren Cook
• $126.56: Merry Christmas. Number 6 of the 12C’s — Maureen Palladino
• $315.94: Merry Christmas — Pam and John Fridlington
• $105.52: In loving memory of my cousins at Christmas, Michael and Robbie Berry, Peter Scala, David Hill and Mark Cyr — Anne Nordstrom
• $105.52: In loving memory of our parents, Priscilla and Louie Scala, Evelyn Nordstrom and Bob Nordstrom — Jeff and Anne Nordstrom
• $52.92: Happy Holidays! — Anonymous
• $52.92: In loving memory — Mary Anne Weeman
• $105.52: In loving memory of Roman Maxsimic. Kathy, Tessa and Kara — Katherine Maxsimic
• $52.92: From Tommy, Miles, and Alice — Tim Follo
• $526.25: Betsy Krementz
• $250.00: Bill and Valerie Sowles
• $263.34: In memory of Phil, Henty and Laurie LaRou. Three wonderful people who really enjoyed this time of year. — Anonymous
• $105.52: Merry Christmass from the Cilley Family — Rodger Cilley
• $31.88: Anonymous
• $52.92: Roxane Orgill and Conrad Bahlke
• $52.92: Christmas Peace — Martha Brower
• $526.35: Coco and Bear White — Clara White
• $52.92: Wishing all a happy and rest-filled holiday with family and friends! Brian H. — Brian Huynh
• $52.92: In memory of Dave “Binky” Davis, who loved Christmas? Love Anna, Dianne, Mike and Dan — Anna Davis
• $105.52: Anonymous
• $100.00: Carol & Jack Flynn
• $158.13: Vanessa and Nick Marcoux
• $158.13: Anonymous
• $52.92: Anonymous
• $105.52: Merry Christmas! Harold and Christopher — Christopher Chouinard
• $175.00: Enjoy the season of good will to all. MHS Ladies Group — Anonymous
• $26.20: In memory of the generosity of Albert Pesce — Bernadette Pesce

Year to date total: $158,054.44.