A new shipment of toys arrived Friday at the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund warehouse in Falmouth, an 18-wheel reminder of how many families are struggling as the holidays approach.
The truck arrived from the fund’s toy supplier in Cincinnati with boxes of dolls, arts and crafts sets, electronics and other toys needed to replenish supplies that were beginning to run low because of higher-than-expected demand. Fund director Kathleen Meade put out the call for extra volunteers, who showed up early Friday morning to unload the truck and begin sorting the toys by age and gender.
They will be given out to grateful parents over the next couple of weeks. On Christmas morning, they will bring smiles to the faces of some of the thousands of kids served this year by the nonprofit.
While the second shipment of toys is a reminder of the need for help, Meade focused on the fact that more families will be helped and more kids will get presents this year.
“It’s a good thing because people are getting served. People have found us and they’re coming for help. And it’s a surprising thing. We didn’t expect this,” she said.
The fund manages its donations for unexpected things like this. But, Meade said, the truck full of toys is also a reminder of the never-ending need for more of the donations that keep the fund going.
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.
FRIDAY’S DONATIONS
In loving memory of Sherry Blanchette Lapointe – Deb Duga s $20
In loving memory of Roman Maxsimic – Katherine Maxsimic $50
Anonymous $50
Anonymous $50
The Micoleau Family $100
Barry Gleason and Maryellen Kenned y $100
Every child deserves a present at Christmas – Rick and Charlotte Coggins $100
Anonymous $100
Ted Baltas $100
In memory of our beloved sister Ellen Moniz – Carolyn & Tom Jones $50
For the kids in memory of “Larry” from the Wilder Family $100
To make Christmas a little brighter $100
Wishing Peace and Joy to everyone! – Madison, Nicholas and Ryan Buckley $150
Merry Christmas and best wishe s $50
Charlie, Anna and Will $30
In loving memory of our first grandchild, William Clay Bedford – His Maine grandparents $250
The Past Matron’s Assoc. of CornerStone Chapter #193 O.E.S $15
In honor of Christine Anderson $100
In memory of my parents, who showed me the magic of Christmas giving $100
In memory of Kristine, Stephanie and Marc $150
In memory of Edmund & Pearl Conley and Norman & Alda Roy – David & Jo Anne Roy $25
In memory of my Mom, Ruth Hamm, who donated every year – Love, Mary Turner $100
In memory of Stig $100
H. James Marshall $25
In memory of my Dad – Carolyn Bowers $25
Anonymous $50
John Sanders $100
Ben Odom $50
Lori Cook $150
Grammy and Punkin $30
James J. MacAdam Family $500
Suzanne McGinn $250
Merry Christmas from Jack & Virginia Clements $100
In loving memory of Babe and Podge $100
Total to date: $57,618.60
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