Slim and Shorty were the nicknames adopted by a pair of 94-year-old women, who shared a legacy that continues to brighten the holidays for children in need.
Donors push Toy Fund over $250,000
There is no time limit for making a donation.
By Staff Report
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Donations continue to flow into the Press Herald Toy Fund as Mainers rally to help families that are struggling during the pandemic.
The year-to-date total is now well over $250,000 and nearly double the amount raised last year.
There is no time limit on donations, which are accepted year-round and have sustained the charity for seven decades. Donors’ names and messages will continue to be published along with periodic updates on the annual fundraising campaign in the days ahead.
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THE PRESS HERALD TOY FUND in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts uses 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. Now in its 71st year, the fund serves families in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Lincoln and Knox counties.
Toy fund volunteer already looking forward to next year
The highlight for volunteers always comes in late December, when parents come to pick up toys they will give to their children.
Therese Drapeau of Freeport just finished her second year volunteering with the Press Herald Toy Fund.
She’ll be back. And she is encouraging others to join the fun next year. “We can always welcome more volunteers,” Drapeau said.
It can be hard work, especially this year when social distancing meant smaller teams on each shift sorting, packing and handing out the toys.
But, said Drapeau, “It’s like a little family. … It’s actually a lot of fun.”
Meet some of the children helped by the toy fund this year
A teenager helping care for her younger siblings and a 4-year-old with Down syndrome are just two of thousands.
By Staff Report
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The donors who have kept the Press Herald Toy Fund going for 71 years never get to physically meet the children they help, at least as far as they know.
But the letters received from parents who seek help often come with tidbits of personal information that help us imagine them. Here are some of the thousands of children who will feel the joy of unwrapping gifts this week because of the generosity of the fund’s supporters:
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.