Toy Fund brings holiday joy to over 4,000 Maine kids thanks to donors, volunteers

A little boy who had a rough year and needs cochlear implants so he can hear for the first time.

A brave 8-year-old and her 5-year-old brother who spent much of the past year living in a shelter for victims of domestic violence.

A 15-year-old boy sharing a motel room with his father because they are in “a rough spot” and homeless for the holidays.

A resilient 1-year-old boy who has been in and out of hospitals all year and is now waiting for a heart transplant.

A 9-year-old girl living with a foster family and recovering from “significant physical, verbal and emotional abuse.”

A pair of “strong and positive” siblings celebrating their first Christmas in this country after a difficult journey for their family.

They are among more than 4,000 deserving Maine children who will have reasons to smile on Christmas morning thanks to the donors and volunteers who supported the Press Herald Toy Fund for a 76th straight year.

The number of children served increased about 20% from 2024, when demand also rose compared to the year before.

Most of the parents who wrote the Toy Fund this year said the high costs of housing, food, heat, health care and other basic needs had simply left them unable to afford holiday gifts.

The increased need forced Toy Fund Operations Manager Jeff Ham to order a second shipment of toys and to bring in volunteers for additional shifts in the workshop. When the book supply was also about to run out, Islandport Press donated more.

In the end, Ham said, the Toy Fund was able to serve every family who applied for help.

It took a massive three-month effort that would never have been possible without the support of volunteers and donors, who have so far pitched in nearly $200,000 for the cause.

Donations will be accepted through the holiday season and beyond to help the Toy Fund cover its higher-than-expected costs.

The Toy Fund uses readers’ donations to buy toys and books for kids up to 16 years old in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Androscoggin and Knox counties.

The Press Herald and Lewiston Sun Journal publish lists of donations to the Toy Fund, 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:

$1,500.00: Merry Christmas — Brew and Daisy. In memory of our brothers and sisters — Daphne G. & Willard C. Warren III
$150.00: In loving memory of Nana and Grampy — Julie Carmichael
$150.00: In loving memory of Betsy — Julie Carmichael
$50.00: Bill & Deb Jabine
$200.00: Best Wishes — Drumlin Environmental LLC
$50.00: Thank you for helping Maine’s families — William F. & Julie M. Schrimer
$100.00: Patricia Frederick
$250.00: Your organization continues to put smiles on children’s faces during this very difficult time of year. We truly hope that this assists you in your continued efforts —Simmons Investment Advisors
$100.00: Shawnee and Katie — my $$ elves, Dianne Curry — Dianne E. & Philip Curry
$350.00: In loving memory of Dorothy Legassie, Linda Miller and Robert Miller from their family — Edward J. & Cynthia J. Legassie
$75.00: Memory of Dr. Herbert H. Fricke — Christa R. Fricke
$200.00: Peace on Earth! — Kathy & Allen Pipkin
$50.00: Ronald E. & Carol E. Beyna
$75.00: In loving memory of Uncle Bob. Merry Christmas. The Miller Family — Jacques K. & Deborah A. Miller
$10.00: In honor of my mother and father who made Christmas so special. MFS — Anonymous
$30.00: Beverly C. Hastings
$100.00: Peace, Joy & Love — Susan S. & John R. Williams
$100.00: June C. Morowski
$50.00: Anonymous
$50.00: Dale & Diane Inman
$100.00: Seasons Greeting to All! — James M. & Janet D. Bither
$250.00: Michael F. & Kristin B. Brigham
$200.00: Thanks for all your good work — Joseph A. Edwards
$20.00: Carole J. Mainella
$105.52: Nancy Caldwell
$25.00: Anonymous
$100.00: Loving memory of Al Kapocius — AK Kopocius & Eileen Kapocius
$200.00: David & Trisha Fayan
$700.00: In lieu of gifts for family & friends. Merry Christmas! — Dick and Evie Tonneson
$100.00: In memory of Bumpa. Thank you for all you do! — Anonymous
$200.00: In memory of Frances K. Viney, Anne & Bill — Anne M. & William R. Presby
$100.00: Chip Flanagan — Louis G. Flanagan Jr.
$500.00: Kris & Tim Masse
$263.34: Anonymous
$52.92: Anonymous
$263.34: Anonymous
$105.52: Michael and Judith Greene
$52.92: In memory of my aunt, Audrey Flanagan — Kathryn Ostergaard
$500.00: Merry Christmas to all! — Anonymous
$105.52: Anonymous
$158.13: Peace on Earth — Ginny and Jim Weaver
$105.52: Benjamin Family — Kate Benjamin
$263.34: Bless the children who are our future — Anne and David Rettig
$105.52: The Singer Family — Laura Singer
$52.92: Anonymous
$105.52: In memory of Guy Gannett employees Hazel and George Barbour — Anonymous
$272.80: From a Maine Mason. Paula and Palou — Louis Abbotoni
$105.52: Anonymous
$100.00: Barbara A. Berger
$210.73: In memory of Woody and Edith Bigelow and Sean Casey — John, Deborah, Conor and Jess Casey
$105.52: Merry Christmas to all the children. Nancy and Tim — Nancy Dean
$210.73: Anonymous
$210.73: Wesley Lovejoy
$21.36: Anonymous
$210.73: Kim and Joe Moore
$50.00: In memory of Violet and Stanley Oliver — Anonymous
$31.88: May your holidays be full of peace, joy and fun! — Katrina Leathers
$200.00: Thank you Russ, Mike — Michael Watson
$52.92: Richard & Ellen Farnsworth
$105.52: Arlene Tanguay
$52.92: Merry Christmas — Richard and Laura Kelly
$105.52: Peter Greene
$31.88: Sending love from Skye, Molly, Rosie and Macy — Lee Ann Whitney
$26.62: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Rick and Janet — Rick Wolf
$52.92: Anonymous
$210.73: In memory of my sister Debi who made Christmas extra special for everyone — Craig Cooper
$105.52: Anonymous
$200.00: Anonymous
$52.92: Wishing a Merry Christmas to all the children and their families and a Happy New Year! — Pam Drivas McTigue
$36.00: In memory of my mother Dorothy, who loved being around young children — Judy Weisman
$52.92: Merry Christmas — Anonymous
$52.92: Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! — Elizabeth Porter
$52.92: In memory of Doris, Forest, David,and Bruce Barber — Diane and Stephen Conley
$105.52: In loving memory of Nathaniel Masse — Eileen & David Masse
$52.92: Luca and Anton Villalobos Koch — Kari Koch
$105.52: Merry Christmas Connor! We love and miss you. Sending Heavenly hugs to you, Grammy and Grampy. Mark, Andra, Ashley, Alison and Courtney — Alexandra Fillmore
$52.92: Merry Christmas Sawyer, Nanie — Patricia Stone
$52.92: In loving memory of Matthew, Mom — Patricia Stone
$789.37: Custom Float Services — Charles Poole
$105.52: Gift to honor HHK and STB — Anonymous
$526.35: Robert Read
$105.52: In loving memory of our Alex — Anonymous
$31.88: Anonymous
$1,052.39: Merry Christmas. Nelson Property Services — Robert Nelson
$100.00: Happy Holidays! — Fred Bopp

Year to date total: $191,012.51.

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