Call it the Toy Fund Tap Takeover.
The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund may be in its 68th year, but it’s not too old to start some new traditions. And while reader donations continue to be the lifeblood of the annual charity drive, special events also play a part.
Tuesday is the second annual benefit concert to raise money for the fund. It’s happening at Bunker Brewing Co. at 17 Westfield St. in Portland from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Sons of Quint will once again provide the music, and the Tacos Del Seoul food truck will be cooking up Korean-Mexican tacos, burritos and bowls.
Beer by Bunker, naturally.
There is no cover charge to enter, but cash donations are encouraged and the goal, as always, is to raise as much as possible to buy holiday gifts for children in need.
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. Bruce Roberts was the original pen name of the newspaper columnist who co-founded the fund in 1949.
The fund – now in its 68th year – is accepting applications for toys from needy families in Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Androscoggin and Knox counties.
Applications can be downloaded at pressheraldtoyfund.org or picked up at the Press Herald’s Welcome Center at 295 Gannett Drive in South Portland. Call 791-6672 to have one mailed to you.
Donations to help buy the toys can be made at pressheraldtoyfund.org 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.
TOY FUND DONATIONS
In memory of Ronald Leeman $25
Anonymous $50
In honor of Bruce Marstaller. With our love, Wendy, Makeighlee and Braden $30
Tom and Diana Allen $150
Barry Gleason and Maryellen Kennedy $100
In memory of Gramma “D” Love from your family. $100
Richard Auteuil Jr. $100
In memory of my mother, Carol Denison Libby $50
For love of Clara $30
Susan & J. David Haynes $50
Harold Warren & Dolores Carver – In memory of our loved ones $100
In memory of Norm & Theresa – Janet & Donald Leaver $50
From Punkin & me $25
John & Barbara Heath $50
Thank you for your good work! Janet Silvers $25
Cindy’s $25
Southern Maine Labor Council $250
Anonymous $500
Haley & Aldrich Inc. $100
Mark Kingston $200
Ken & Jill Ryan $100
Patricia Noonan $150
In memory of Oma and Gramps – JPC $250
Gaston Lee $50
Thomas & Holly McKenny $500
In memory of Willis Jodrie, from his loving family – Ken, Sandy, Ria & Della Jodrie $50
Anonymous $25
Kathleen & James Moreau $50
In memory of my husband, Joe, and my boxer, Pogie $50
Bailey & Ramona Toderico $50
Pauline Kenniston $20
Jean Campbell $100
In memory of Sena & Warren Herbert and Irene & Henry Ducharme $25
In loving memory of our parents, Bill & Barbara Caswell $25
In memory of Rose and Ralph $50
Meg and Jim Wilson $250
In memory of Clarence and Phyllis Smith $100
Anonymous $200
Anonymous $50
Anonymous $50
Anonymous $500
Robin Pinnette $100
The Supergirls $200
In memory of Charlie and Ray Adams, from Jane and Stephen Parker $100
Merry Christmas! Ronnie Small $400
Anonymous $100
Ellen Laurie Bloch $104
Claire and Richard Corbin $200
Patricia Harrington and Michael Bell $100
John and June McClean $100
Year to date: $68,894
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