A single mother of two boys in southern Maine is learning that a full-time job is not always enough to pay all the bills and put presents under the tree at Christmas.

She wrote to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund and, for the first time, asked for help.

She was divorced in September, she wrote. “I have full custody of my children and, as the expenses add up, I am left with little or no extra money.”

She has a full-time job for a nearby school district and a part-time job as a cashier in a grocery store. But she and her family are still falling behind, and her children face a Christmas with little or nothing to unwrap.

“I have never had to ask for help with the holidays,” she wrote. “I know my children and I are grateful for the service you provide.”

The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts is using 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.

The fund – now in its 67th 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.

For more information and to donate online, go to: pressheraldtoyfund.org.

See more stories about the fund at pressherald.com.

MONDAY’S TOY FUND DONORS

In memory of Andrew Campbell  $100

In loving memory of my parents and husband, who loved Christmas – BSD  $200

Anonymous  $500

Joyce & William Chayer  $200

Carol Grundstrom  $100

With love for children!  $50

Anonymous  $50

Whitney Drake  $200

In honor of Clara  $25

Merry Christmas! Kathleen Wilson  $100

Because I am blessed to have my granddaughter, Sophia  $20

In memory of my wonderful wife, Joyce! E.W. Freeman  $250

In loving memory of Mina & Joe  $50

In memory of our loved ones from Harold Warren & Dolores Carver  $100

In memory of my sister & brother-in-law, Peggy & Bob Jewett – Frances O’Neill  $200

Anonymous  $25

From Pop  $40

In memory of Steven & Brendan Keating  $100

In memory of Norma Lawrence  $50

Lorna Dorsey  $50

In loving memory of Burton D. Bailey, from Faith  $25

The Buttners  $35

In honor of Scarborough bus driver Mike Lavallee, from Amelia Odlin  $25

From the Robert Odlin family of Scarborough  $75

From Katy, Greg & Maggi e $25

Every child deserves a special gift, Kap & Barbara Powers  $100

From Millie & Gillie  $100

In memory of Thad, Marie & Gayle Crapser and John & Lorena Knight – Richmond & Nanone Knight  $50

Anonymous  $100

In loving memory of Susan J. Stevens – miss you so much, Dad, Mom, Rick, Eric & Tim  $100

Gary Dunn  $50

In loving memory of my husband, Earle L. Ingalls  $150

In memory of Rose & Louis Germani & Louise St. Clair  $100

Anonymous  $100

In memory of Elayne K. Page – Love, Bob  $100

Pamela Ferland  $100

Paul Collins  $100

Lowell A. Pease  $25

Tux Turkel  $50

A grateful Mom & Grammy  $500

Anonymous  $100

In memory of Charles Towle Jr.  $250

Total to date  $45,030.60

For more information and to donate online, go to:

pressheraldtoyfund.org

See more stories about the fund at

pressherald.com

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