Alec Tippie of Yarmouth is the kind of kid that can restore your faith in people, especially little ones.
For the second year in a row, Alec decided to forgo presents at his birthday party and asked his friends to donate instead to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund so that less fortunate children will have toys to unwrap at Christmas. It’s all in his short note to the fund, neatly handwritten and with nearly perfect grammar and spelling:
“Dear Portland Press Harald Toy Fund,
On my 11th birthday this year I asked friends to bring donations instead of presents. We were able to collect one hundred twenty dollars for the Portland Press Harold Toy Fund. Thank you for having such a great program.
Sincerely,
Alec Tippie
By the time Alec’s gift got to the fund, the donation grew to $150.
The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund is using donations from readers to provide toys to about 7,000 Maine children who might otherwise not receive holiday gifts because of hardships faced by their parents.
The fund – now in its 66th year – is accepting applications for toys from needy families in Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox counties. Applications can be downloaded at pressheraldtoyfund.org or picked up at the Welcome Center desk on the fifth floor of One City Center in Portland. Call 791-6672 to have one mailed to you.
The deadline for applications has been extended to December 15.
Donations to help buy the toys can be made on the website or by writing checks to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund and mailing them to the fund at P.O. Box 7310, Portland, ME 04112.
The campaign’s fundraising goal this year is $250,000. The total raised so far is $34,661.
DONATIONS
Merry Christmas …$25
Happy Holidays – Suzanne Fox …$100
Glad to give back to the city I love …$100
Merry Christmas from Sam and Marge DiBiase …$50
Merry Christmas Mom and Dad – Jennifer Jordan-Twombley …$50
Merry Christmas from Russ, Elly and Andi $300
In Memory of Rita Baltas who loved Christmas – Ted Baltas $50
In Memory of Harry Burnham – always in the Christmas Spirit! – Ted Baltas $50
In honor of my sister Gina Norton – Mary Jane Norton $50
In memory of James D. Wallace, Jr. – Phyllis Reames $50.00
In loving memory of Patricia M. Talbot from Dick and Cheryl $50
In honor of our dad, James D. Wallace Jr. – Josh and Mandy Wallace $25
Our gift is in sharing – Melissa Taylor $20
Thank you for helping give us a great Christmas – Jason Stults $25
Merry Christmas from the Wolfs $50
In Honor of my son Michael – Brad Goulet $100
In memory of Susan S. Clark $100
Happy Holiday All $50
In honor of my parents – Ann Leamon $100
We love and miss Bill, Connie, Bob and Art $50
Anonymous $200
Anonymous $20
Anonymous $400
M. Rose Gugliucci $200
In loving memory of my loving wife, Rachel Prior, 6/17/47 – 2/19/15 – John Prior Sr… $5
Marsh Agency Insurance $200
Laddie Deemer $100
In loving memory of my parents and my husband, Jean Paul Moreau – Florence $50
Albert Hagan $50
In memory of parents, Stanley & Violet Oliver, & Grandmother Ethel Blair – Geraldine Oliver $35
Joan Moore $50
In memory of James Lynch, Ben and Mary Lyons – Janet Lyons $300
In memory of Helen Sellers and Roger Pingree – Jane Johnston $25
In honor of our grandchildren – Roger and Janice Merrow $50
In memory of Phil and Connie Boston, who so enjoyed giving – David Boston $100
Darryl Arsenault $20
In loving memory of my husband, Pete $50
In memory of James Wallace, Jr. – The Brackett Family $50
In loving memory of Garrett Brackett, Love always, Mom, Dad, Alyssa, Libby & Reegan $100
In memory of Dick Phipps and Ed Doughty – Phil and Diane $100
In memory of James Wallace – Sally Knight $100
In memory of Kathy, Andrew & Philip Lowell, and Tom, Jim & Kay Straub – Gertrude Lowell $50
From the Achorn Family $40
Today’s total: $3,690
Total year to date: $34,661
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