Donors grateful to be part of toy fund tradition
Many send notes of thanks along with their donations.
By Staff ReportStaff report
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The Press Herald Toy Fund is used to getting thank you notes from parents who, with a little help, were able to bring joy to their children at the holidays.
But this year there have also been many notes of thanks from donors.
It seems people were craving the chance to help struggling neighbors this year, and grateful that this particular holiday tradition survived the pandemic.
“There have been such sentiments each day,” said Kathleen Meade, the toy fund’s director. The notes say how glad the donors are that the fund happened despite all the challenges and once again offered them a way to “share the good feeling of helping others and … see the effort come together and build.”
Parents turn to toy fund in a stormy year
Parents grow desperate as the pandemic makes all life s other difficulties that much worse.
By Staff Report
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The letters that arrive to the Press Herald Toy Fund can be heartbreaking. And, while most parents ask that their personal stories not be shared, the letters taken together are a reflection of the times.
During down economic cycles, the common theme is job loss. In overheated real estate markets, it’s evictions and homelessness. Last year, for unknown reasons, there was a noticeable increase in letters from families escaping domestic violence.
This year, of course, it’s COVID-19, which seems to have made all of the other problems significantly worse.
Toy fund overcomes pandemic challenges to deliver joy to children
Curbside toy pickups are among the changes made necessary by challenging times.
By Staff Report
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Nonprofits have had to make lots of adjustments during the pandemic, finding new ways to operate safely and struggling to serve their communities at a time of historic needs and limited resources.
The Press Herald Toy Fund is no different.
An early start to the fundraising campaign, expanded coverage of the effort by the Sun Journal in Lewiston and The Times Record in Brunswick, and the generous spirit of readers who want to contribute in a difficult time are helping the toy fund meet the increased need as families struggle through the economic fallout from the pandemic.