To Shelley Snodgrass of Freeport, a child’s toy is not just a toy.
And she doesn’t want to accept the possibility that local children might experience a Christmas without new toys to ignite their imaginations, inspire their curiosities and allow them to escape the stresses of life, which might well include poverty, illness or divorce.
So Snodgrass is going to do something about it: Yoga.
An artist who works as the office manager of a Portland art gallery, she also is a yoga instructor at Freeport Yoga Co. On Saturday, she will lead a benefit yoga class in the company’s Yarmouth studio to raise money for the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund. People who come for a restorative yoga session will be asked to donate whatever they can afford and all proceeds will help the fund buy age-specific toys for thousands of Maine children who would otherwise face a Christmas without presents to unwrap because their families are going through difficult times.
“What I like about the toy fund is the idea that it really encourages play. I think it’s really important that kids are free to use their imaginations,” said Snodgrass, who fondly remembers Christmases past and the toys she got as a child. ” I just think it’s a great idea to give perimission for kids to de-stress and let go of everyday life and encourage imagination and play.”
The benefit Yoga session will take place at the Yarmouth Yoga Studio on Route 1 from 11 a.m. to noon. If you’d like to de-stress yourself and join in, please register at freeportyogaco.com/class-schedule. The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts – now in its 67th 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.
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.
For more information and to donate online, go to pressheraldtoyfund.org.
See more stories about the fund at pressherald.com.
THURSDAY’S TOY FUND DONORS
James and Maureen Gorman … $2000
In memory of Slim and Shorty … $100
In memory of Al and Tobie $25
In memory of my mom, Barbara Tully $10
In honor of our twin grandsons, Nathaniel and Zachary Prentiss $20
In loving memory of Grandma Dot from the Irish Family $125
In memory of loved ones at Christmas $50
In memory of Chester from Arrolyn Gilbert $20
Darryl Arsenault $25
David Boston $100
Lee Dernehl $50
Anonymous $20
Anonymous $200
In memory of Peter Chadbourne – the Krekorian Family $100
For peace in the world!.. $20
In memory of Nick $20
Anonymous $20
Anonymous $100
Don & Teresa Holden $50
Total to date $20,710.60
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