A VOLUNTEER EFFORT by Bath and Brunswick Elks to ensure that local children in need receive Christmas gifts. Updates written by a Santa Claus Fund volunteer appear in each edition of The Times Record from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve.
Four gentlemen from our team go out and meet with business owners throughout our service area. They started Saturday and continued again Monday. They will be out there again today.
We hope you welcome our volunteers as they canvass the area. Be part of our team and help us “put a smile on a child Christmas morning.”
I missed a dedication Monday for George and Letty Race, who wished to make their donation of $50 “given in memory of our son, Kevin Race.” I didn’t see the slip in the envelope and I am very sorry for the oversight.
Today we received donations from Marjorie Powers, $50 in memory of Arthur Powers; Ronald Paradis, $50; Walter and Nancy Leavitt, $20; Joseph Sheehan Sr. and Lena Sheehan, $50; and anonymous, $10.
Edward and Jeanne McKenna gave $60, in memory of John “Jack,” Muriel, Anna and Jackie. Gordon and Roberta Weil donated $50. Iona Osnoe sent $20 in memory of “my two sons, Calvin and Wayne Osnoe.”
Blueberry Hill Nursery School sent $681, which represents the proceeds from candle sales via Castine Candle Co. Rodger and Rebecca Cuthbert gave $100. Mary St. Pierre sent $25.
Dorothy Wallace donated $25 in memory of John Goodenow Jr. Dom and Gerri Vermette gave $25. Dr. Richard and Anna Largay sent $100.
John and Sheila Hewitt gave $25. David and Linda Power donated $25. Paula Billings sent $25.
Arthur and Martha Mayo gave $100, and Ben Steers donated $25.
That adds up to $1,466 for today. Thank you for your generosity. I am pleased with our progress.
The new 2011 total is now at $5,951. Our goal is to raise $30,000 this year. It’s a tall order but that is what it takes to purchase the same amount of toys this year as we did last year. It’s no surprise to anyone that the toys costs more.
We have made some adjustments and are finding ways to stretch our dollars. I think our goal is realistic, and with the help of our readers and loyal supporters, we should make it.
I didn’t have space in Monday’s report to bring you up to date on our toy and mitten donations. We have had so many wonderful people stop by the Elks lodges this year, and many did so anonymously. Here comes the list of donors that I do have:
Martha Pratt made 31 pairs of mittens and two beautiful infant sweater hat and mitten ensembles. They were just terrific, Martha. Thank you.
Cheryl Pinkham must be working around the clock because she has made two deliveries within a couple days of each other. On her first visit, she dropped off 181 pairs of mittens and 13 knitted hats. She returned Monday with 75 knitted baby bonnets. That’s unbelievable, Cheryl. Thank you!
Ann Otto paid us a visit and dropped off six hats and four teddy bears.
Our friends from the Mid Coast Retired Educators made another fabulous donation this year. We received Snuggle wraps, Tony Hawk (Tech Dek) items, markers, coloring books, crayons, art supplies, a bead kit, a puzzle, a child’s purse, a “Velveteen Rabbit” video, a manicure set, games, books, jewelry, Matchbox cars, a doll, a tractor, handmade doll blankets, personal items, handmade hats and mittens and gloves, and a monetary donation to boot. Thank you folks for all you do.
A woman I call the Secret Santa, who has avoided my spy network again, also made a wonderful donation. I have been trying to find out who this wonderful person is for three years. She appears so briefly, drops off a cache of toys, and then disappears as quickly as she appeared.
She must be an angel, because only one person at a time sees her, and she has no name. But I have new plan. Next year, I plan to install new wall-to-wall video cameras.
If it is the last thing I do, I will discover who she is. She got away again this year, but it ain’t happening next year.
To the Secret Santa: I hope you realize I’m joshing and I love what you do for our kids in need. Your donation must be at least $1,000 worth of assorted games, toys, dolls, models, cars and trucks. Thank you for making it fun and mysterious.
Cub Scout Troop 646 delivered their toys Monday morning, and we have already put some of the toys in boxes. There were tractors, pickup trucks with trailers in tow, Matchbox cars, games, puzzles and many more items I didn’t get to see. All I can say is, “Thank you, Cub Scouts, you did a good thing by showing you cared and you shared.”
I want to bring you up to date on boys and girls we added today. We processed and approved 12 more letters, which brings this year’s total 99 letters. We added 15 boys and six girls. That makes 93 boys and 84 girls, for a total of 177 boxes that are packed and ready for Santa on Christmas Eve.
If you haven’t sent your letter in, time is running out. Dec. 16 is the last day we can process letters of request. Everything is shipped out the following Monday, Dec. 19.
Mail your request to The Santa Claus Fund Inc., at P.O. Box 278, Brunswick, ME 04011.
Please include your name, address and a phone number. List the names of your children, their genders and their dates of birth. You must be their parent or legal guardian. You must live in our service area. Please provide your street address and not a mailbox number.
Call us at 319-9317 two days after mailing your letter. We will tell you if you qualified and give you a box number and the date and time when your box will be available. It will expedite your request if you provide all the information I have just mentioned.
If you have read our column and you would like to be part of our team, please consider sending us a taxdeductible contribution. Our address is the same post office box that I listed above: P.O. Box 278, Brunswick, ME 04011.
We will publish your donation in the next issue of The Times Record. I am going to keep you informed of our progress right through New Year’s Eve. So help us “ Put a Smile on a Child Christmas Morning.”
Thank you for taking a few minutes to read our report. I’ll be back Wednesday with a visit to one of our suppliers, very interesting store in Bath.
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