Jon Hebert remembers Christmases with lots of gifts when he was growing up in Westbrook. And he remembers the joy of Christmas mornings while raising his own children in the city, where he still lives today.
Those memories are a part of the reason the 74-year-old retired paper maker and businessman now volunteers each year to help the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund, which provides new toys for children who might otherwise have no presents to unwrap because of hardships faced by their parents.
“I had four children, and I just can’t imagine what it would have been like if I wasn’t able to give gifts to my kids,” Hebert says.
Hebert does many of the jobs that are needed to keep the fund working. He unpacks and sorts toys by gender and age, and helps package them for families that apply for help. And he helps hand out the bags full of toys to parents who arrive by appointment for pickups. Giving the toys out is his favorite part.
“They’re very thankful for what they get. I can see why. It’s as hard on the parents as it on the kids when they don’t have any presents. These are people who come in and they don’t have anything,” he said.
The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts is using donations from readers to provide toys to thousands of Maine children who might otherwise not receive holiday gifts because of hardships faced by their parents.
The fund – 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 DONATIONS
Just paying it forward $100
Merry Christmas to all from The Stowell Family $100
In memory of Mary Griffin who loved Christmas – Hunter and Helana Griffin & the Griffin Family $50
Merry Christmas! Kevin McCarthy $100
In memory of Lowell Harmon $50
Merry Christmas from Sam and Marge DiBias $50
In loving memory of Robert H Foster from Carolyn M. Foster $100
From our Grandchildren $50
Nicholas and Barbara Fowler $250
Merry Christmas from the Roy Family $50
Happy Holidays to all! Adam and Isabelle Johnson $100
Merry Christmas! The Leive Family $100
Merry Christmas – Pam and John Fridlington $250
Anonymous $100
Susan Robinson $25
Merry Christmas! The Jamieson Family $200
In the spirit of giving, let this be a Merry one for many. – CJ & Keith $100
In memory of Mr. Milliman $30
The New Gloucester Elf $100
Anonymous $100
Merry Christmas! The Giles Family $100
In memory of Clarence and Phyllis Smith $100
In memory of Nigel $20
In memory of Kirsten Angela Terhune $50
Anonymous $30
Anonymous $250
In memory of Caoimhe $1,000
Merry Christmas from Mr. Rogers, Anna and Maizie $30
In memory of Harold & Jo Richardson $100
Happy Holidays! The Cox Family $30
County of Cumberland Employees $293
Kathleen & Ken Pierce $100
In memory of our family and friends who are always in our thoughts at Christmas – Don & Denise Rioux $50
In loving memory of Bob Davis from Betsy $25
The Farmers $50
For the kids $100
In loving memory of Emmons & Joan Johnson from the Johnson and Hart Families $200
In loving memory of Jane E. Quirk from Quirkie $100
In memory of Tommy Langella from his family $50
In memory of our Mothers – Donna Lee and Frank Mower $25
In honor of our grandsons , Sam, Kevin and Jake – Susan and Jerry Goldberg $150
In memory : Barry M. Campbell, Vietnam Veteran May 1947-1995 $100
In memory of Marie $50
William and Julie Schirmer $25
In memory of my husband , Paul Sferes $200
In memory of Bill Murphy $25
Michael Bowdler $25
Remembering how much my parents, Isabelle and Whitney Caldwell, loved Christmas, children and giving -Judith Caldwell-Manion $100
Merry Christmas from Aubree, Preston, Shelby and Diddy B $50
Merry Christmas from Helen Peterson $20
Total to date………..$54,248.60
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