CUB SCOUT PACK 646 of Topsham recently held a fundraiser in which they asked those who attended a benefit dinner to bring gifts for donation to the Santa Claus Fund.
One of the dads, Hampton Hughes, had accompanied the boys. We had a chance to talk further at that time about how the Scouts could make it a special project next year. And they did just that this year.
A VOLUNTEER EFFORT by Bath and Brunswick Elks to ensure that local children in need receive Christmas gifts. Updates written by a Santa Claus Fund volunteer appear in each edition of The Times Record from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve.
Along with selling tickets to the dinner, they asked guests to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Santa Claus Fund. They really pulled it off.
Guests included newborns, young siblings, parents and grandparents. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. Some were guests who came to support the troop and their project.
The boys were in their uniforms, complete with badges, belt clips and special scarves. The boys were terrific hosts!
While their parents handled the cooking, the boys set tables. Another group wheeled beverage carts to those who were seated. Still another group cleared tables.
The dinner was excellent, and my wife loved the blueberry and lemon cake.
When dinner was over, we walked past the overflowing toy bin. I can’t wait to see what gets delivered this morning. Thank you, Scout Troop 646 of Topsham. And thank you, Scout leaders, parents, grandparents and guests for your support and generosity.
Now back to the North Pole Annex, where things are really in high gear. We are now at 143 children so far. We have 72 boys and 71 girls.
It is interesting to me to see the boys outnumber the girls one day, and then the girls will outnumber the boys on the next day. Just thought I would throw that out there and see if you have noticed that it too.
Eighty-two letters of request have been processed and approved. We still are trying to contact a few of you who omitted some information. Please call us if you haven’t checked on your request. We may be trying to reach you and have been unsuccessful. It will get your request moving again.
We do not want a pending file when we close the annex on Dec. 16. We need you to call as soon as possible. Our number is 319-9317.
If you haven’t sent your request to the Santa Claus Fund, do it right away. Time is ticking by. It takes two days for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the request, and it takes a full day to process, approve and pack the toys.
Get those requests in now before it is too late. Just send your letter to The Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O. Box 278, Brunswick, ME 04011. Be sure to include your name, address and a phone number where we can contact you.
Please note you must be the parent or legal guardian of the children for whom you seek assistance. Then list the names of your children, their genders and their dates of birth.
Call us after two days. We will give you a box number, as well as time, date and a location where your boxes can be picked up.
When you come to pick up your boxes, please provide a photo ID with your correct address. If you have moved since your last license was renewed, bring a phone bill or light bill or something showing your name and current address.
Friday brought in several contributions. We received $1,365, and here is the list of names: Bill and Lillian Waite donated $50. Hilmar and Olive Utecht gave $100, in memory of “Loved Ones.” James and Celeste Pope gave $50.
Maxwell Fletcher and Margaret L. Bruce contributed $100. Alice Johnson donated $50, in memory of “the greatest man in all the world, my husband of 62 years, George Robert Johnson, and in memory of our son, Corey Ross Johnson.”
George and Letty Race sent $50. Barry M. Sturgeon gave $200. Paper Trails donated $100. David and Joyce Hennessey gave $40. Bert and J.R. Webster donated $150.
James and Joan Peacock donated $25. Elizabeth Scully sent in $50. Scott and Grace Gill gave $50, in memory of Winnie and Jerry.
Suzanne M. Austin gave $200, and Jane A. Gott gave $50.
We are very grateful for all of your generosity.
This amount now brings us to our new grand total of $4,485.
I also have to thank Tom Elliott, who called on the following members of our business community: Bracketts Funeral Home donated $200. Morning Glory Natural Foods donated $300. The Stetson Funeral Home donated $300. Brillant Motors donated $150, in memory of Judith and in memory of Tyler. Tri- Sports in Topsham donated $50. Pre-Cast Concrete gave us $50. The Copper Kettle donated $50.
That’s another $1,100. We thank each of the businesses listed above for their generous donations.
That increases our 2011 total to $5.585, which is fantastic. We are getting closer to our goal of $30,000 every day.
If you would like to donate to the Santa Claus Fund, all you need to do is send a check to the Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O. Box 278, Brunswick, ME 04011.
We will publish your donation in the next issue of The Times Record. If there is someone special you would like to remember, we will gladly publish their name or names.
Our mission is “Put a Smile on a Child Christmas Morning.” Become a member of our team and help these children who might not otherwise have a Christmas.
We will do all the work; we just need your support to make it happen.
I will let you in on a secret: I have seen the mail that was processed at the end of the day Friday, and the request for assistance jumped dramatically.
I think the number will be 200 or more by the time I prepare the report for Tuesday. It looks more and more like we will reach 600 by Dec. 16.
Budgets were projected on about 550 children. We are concerned that we may have to dip into reserves to fill the need. Please keep a watchful eye on our progress. It is tough for a lot of families this year.
One request came from a young mother who told us she always sent a contribution to the Santa Fund and never thought she would need our help. Well this year circumstances developed, through no fault of their own, to place her family in deep trouble.
I read these letters and I’m an old softie, and it tears at the heart strings. I have to get up from my desk and walk around a little bit to clear my head.
If you have been thinking about helping, this would be the time to help. Thanks for spending some time with us. We’ll be back with more news from the Santa Claus Fund on Tuesday.
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