Families escaping domestic violence seek help

Stories about families shattered by domestic violence have become a sad reality at the Press Herald Toy Fund in recent years.

Parents write about escaping abusive relationships, trying to rebuild lives and helping their children through the trauma caused by the violence and the upheaval that can come with escaping an unsafe home and starting over. They turn to the Toy Fund to restore a sense of normality and give their children a chance to just be children again during the holidays.

“My three children and I moved into a new home last summer after leaving a domestic violence situation,” a mother wrote to the fund this year. “This will be our first Christmas in our new home where we are safe and together. I am very excited to share this with my children.”

“I continue to work to save money but worry that I will not be able to provide much for my children this Christmas.

“I hate having to ask for help but am so grateful for the kindness of others.

“Thank you!”

TODAY’S DONATIONS:

Chris & Chris Newell $200
Susan & David Haynes $100
In loving memory of my mom & dad & sister, from Michael Nelson $75
Lorna Dorsey $25
Merry Christmas! From Emery Goff & Bill Carhart $100
In memory of Whit and Isabelle Caldwell $100
From Chud, who loved children $50
In loving memory of my husband, Lloyd E. Jones $300
In loving memory of my granddaughter, Carlene Jones $100
Alice & Richard Spencer $100
In memory of my parents, Bernice & Bud Jones, and my sister, Rena Wynn, who loved Christmas $25
AL Carlisle $250
John Allan & Nancy Page $25
To honor our grandchildren & great grandchildren: Angela, Matt & Katie; Andrea & Kristian; Josh & Elizabeth; Jeremy & Jameson; Andre’, Lucy, Quinn & Everly. Janice & Roger Merrow $100
James & Maureen Connor $50
Merry Christmas! Ava & Emilia $40
In memory of Bill & Max $100
In loving memory of Joyce Chadwick and Marcia Curtis $100
Kenneth & Kathlyn Moran $200
In memory of Pat & John Scanlan $100
Merry Christmas to all the elves! Dianne & Gregg $100
In loving memory of Bill & Barbara Caswell $50
In memory of Linda Ford $50
Anonymous $100
Michael Dudley $50
Harvey & Peggy Langlois $50
In memory of Josephine Peterson, who passed on 11/23/22 $75
The Renshaw Family $50
Richard Vaglia $100
Anonymous $250
In memory of Nathan Eloian from David & Mark $100
Best Wishes from Drumlin Environmental LLC $250
Merry Christmas! Lorraine Sarno $10
Anonymous $500
Daniel & Sherry Hutchins $500
Carl Robinson $500
Daniel & Melinda Anderson $250
Treekeepers – Johnson’s Arboriculture $250
Thomas & Holly McKenney $1,000
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Charles Dickens $100
Thanks for the reminder to Victoria Hugo-Vidal $250
To honor my parents, Earl & Muriel Goodspeed, from Laura Goodspeed Feder $200
In honor of my sons – Jim & Mike Cook $50
Merry Christmas from Liam, Annie, Ella, Lauren Kristen $150
In memory of Wm. C. Mitton $500
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” $100
In loving memory of Art & Kay Harry $100
Tis the season to be jolly – Merry Christmas! $50
In loving memory of my daughter Mary $50
In memory of Robin H. $75
Bernard & Penelope Davala $100
In memory of Blanche & Fernald Goulette $50
In memory of Charlie $100
Anonymous $500
In honor of Clara & Emma $100
In honor of my grandchildren: Max, Ella, Theo, Lilah, Penny & Miller $100
Happy Christmas, Judy & David Kelly $300
Chebeague Island Fire & Rescue Association $245
In loving memory of Suzette, from Mom $200
From one 73 yr. old to another (me to Toy Fund) in honor of the Maine Millennial, Victoria H-V, a treasure! $100
Merry Christmas! John & Linda McCormick $150
Southern Maine Labor Council $250
Robert & Mary Read $250
Susan & Daniel Baynes $75
Merry Christmas! Daniel Possumato & Ellen Steinbart $50
In memory of Frances Davis $100
Jerome Brown $50
In memory of John & Peggy McKinnon, from their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren $100
Anonymous $500