The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund is using donations from readers to provide toys to about 7,000 Maine children who might otherwise not receive holiday gifts because of hardships faced by their parents.

The fund – now in its 65th year – is accepting applications for toys from needy families in Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox counties. Applications can be downloaded at pressheraldtoyfund.org or picked up at the Welcome Center desk on the fifth floor of One City Center in Portland. Call 791-6672 to have one mailed to you.

Donations to help buy the toys can be made on the website 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.

The campaign’s fundraising goal this year is $250,000. The total raised so far is $62,909.10.

Here is a letter from one such applicant:

Dear Press Herald Toy Fund,

I have a 3-year-old daughter. Her dad and I are both disabled. My Social Security has been reduced. I simply can’t figure out how to afford Christmas presents because I just don’t have the money. Can you help?

No money to spare

DONATIONS

Anonymous…………………………$100

Merry Christmas! Deena M. Hastings………………………………..$50

In lieu of Christmas cards, Carl and Rachel Akins………………….$35

Esther and James Marshall Jr…………………………………………………….$25

Anonymous……………………………..$1

In loving memory of Ben, Seamus and Tommy………….$200

Jill V. Maromek……………………..$75

Fred and Maryeileen Haley …………………………………………………..…$250

In loving memory of Dave and Davey Cousins, from your family …………………………………………….…$20

In memory of Ted and Rita Baltas ……………………………………$75

From Flaggy Meadow Farm ………………………………………………………$20

In memory of Robert Pettengill …………………………..…$60

In memory of Bill and Alice Amer …………………………………….$50

Paul Collins………………………….$100

In loving memory of Ruth Bennett and Elmer Constant ………………………………………………..…$100

In memory of Stanley and Violet Oliver and Ethel Blais…………..$35

In memory of my mother, Carol Denison Libby – Love, Andy and family…………………………………….$50

In memory of my husband, Phil Murphy, from Lucy……………….$50

Louis Campbell…………………..$100

Helen Peterson…………………….$20

Ronald Peaker…………………….$100

Kathleen Moreau………………….$50

In loving memory of my dear friend Priscilla Bowker, with love, Joan………………………………$10

Ann Deering………………………….$50

Andrew Rasmussen…………..$200

From Jack and Amy Jensen ……………………………………………………$200

For all the children, from SMK ………………………………………………..…$25

From “Bentley”…………………..$100

From Roger and Lydia Percival, Naples, Florida, for the children ………………………………..$25

Stuart and Margaret Welch …………………………………………………….$500

Anonymous ………………………….$25

From the Day family …………$100

Anonymous …………………….…$500

Neal Perry ……………………………$20

In memory of Donald Ferland …………………………………………………$100

Deborah Fossum …………………$25

In loving memory of Uncle Bob – the Millers ……………………….…$75

In memory of “Edie” Richards husband “Max”……………..$100.00

Merry Christmas! Rusty and Sally Bennett …………………..$100

In memory of Rip ………………..$50

In memory of Dad, Gram and Nana …………………………………..$200

Anonymous …………………………$50

In loving memory of Grandma Dot, from all the grandkids ……………………………………………………..$100

In memory of Fran Cook …..$100

To brighten a child’s Christmas! David and Deborah Suhr ……$65

Haley and Aldrich Inc. ……….$125

In loving memory of Audrey Anne Jackson, who loved children, from Tom and Joanne Carlson ……………………………….$100

Loving memory of Thomas Cook, from wife and family…$25

Pamela Shay, Gregory Soper …………………………………………………..$100

For Christine Anderson ………$50

We are glad to help make a needy child’s Christmas brighter, David and Sandra Michniewicz ……………………………………………….$50

Year to date: $62,909.10