The email that arrived in the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund inbox last holiday season was a bit out of the ordinary.
Many messages to the Toy Fund are from families looking for help, but this one came from a South Portland woman who had an unusual offer.
The woman was downsizing and was looking to donate a sizable collection of Barbie dolls. She wanted to know if the Toy Fund was interested in giving the dolls away as gifts or using them in whatever way would best help the cause.
With her giving spirit in mind, the Toy Fund decided to auction the Barbies — some highly sought-after by collectors — to raise money to support this year’s gifts.
“It’s really going to help because of the extreme demand this year. We don’t expect it to be any less next year,” said Toy Fund Operations Manager Jeff Ham.
The Barbie collection was impressive. The dolls, some released up to 30 years ago, ranged from several “I Love Lucy” Barbies to characters from “Wizard of Oz,” “My Fair Lady” and “Wonder Woman.” There was a Peter Rabbit-themed doll, a Little Debbie commemorative doll and special holiday Barbies released each year for Christmas.
Over the past two months, a volunteer carefully sorted, researched and photographed the Barbie dolls before listing them on eBay. Most of the Barbies were scooped up by enthusiastic collectors, often selling for $50 or more.
The dolls have been shipped to collectors all over the country, including a Barbie modeled after “Star Trek” character Nyota Uhura purchased by a buyer eager to complete his collection. Another doll was bought by a collector in Romania.
With only a few dolls left to sell, the effort has so far netted more than $600 that the Toy Fund will use to help keep up with this season’s high demand for gifts.
The Toy Fund uses the donations from newspaper readers to buy toys and books for kids up to 16 years old in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Androscoggin and Knox counties.
Those who make an online donation from Thanksgiving through Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2) will be entered to win four tickets to the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s Magic of Christmas.
TODAY’S DONATIONS:
- $200.00: Jim and Michele Russell
- $21.36: Anonymous
- $105.52: Anonymous
- $105.52: In Memory of Dick Layman. Thank you Dad for introducing us to this wonderful place. Love you! God bless the children this Christmas — Layman family
- $105.52: In Memory of Carolyn B. and Robert P. Snyder — Robert Snyder
- $105.52: Law family
- $105.52: Colby and Jeromy Strickland
- $105.52: Anonymous
- $105.52: John and Lynda Wilson
- $105.52: For the kids! — Anonymous
Year to date total: $5,018.45.
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.