For the past six years or so, workers at Sevee & Maher Engineers Inc. have donated $1,000 to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund.

This holiday season, they’re on course to make another big donation, thanks to the efforts of Matthew Muzzy, a senior geotechnical engineer at the firm in Cumberland.

Since Thanksgiving, a steady stream of employees have stopped by his office to talk and make donations. Muzzy hopes collect another $1,000 for the charity that has long been close to his heart.

He has been contributing to the fund since the 1980s.

“I’m a believer that every kid ought to have something under the tree,” Muzzy said Tuesday.

Tony Barrasso, owner of Anthony’s Italian Kitchen in Portland, has contributed to the fund in one way or another for the last 20 years.

Every holiday season, he makes a monetary donation and provides pizzas for its volunteers.

Barrasso gives because he knows what it’s like growing up poor.

He believes in paying it forward.

“It’s for the kids,” Barrasso said. “I always taught my kids, ‘Do what you can.’ That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way I brought my children up.”

This holiday season, nearly 50 businesses across Maine have joined in the effort to collect donations for the toy fund.

Among those are Ray’s Market on West Street in Biddeford. Manager Elaine Cantara said the store has collected donations for the past 20 years or more.

“We love doing it,” Cantara said. “We see a lot of people coming in here that really need the help. It makes me happy that someone at Christmas will have something under the tree.”

A donation jar also sits at the register at Shoppers True Value Hardware in South Portland.

Jessica Simpson, manager of the family business, said her late grandfather used to make donations every year in his grandchildren’s names. This year, Simpson decided to carry on his tradition.

“It reminds me of my grandfather,” Simpson said.

Businesses interested in collecting donations for the fund can send an email to marketing@mainetoday.com.

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.

TUESDAY’S DONATIONS

Mr. Stacey A. & Mrs. Cristina Gulianta $100

Phyllis Reames $100

Merry Christmas! Linda & Norm Curthoys $400

Stella & The Super Girls $200

In memory of my husband, Cliff Smith, and parents, Philip & Janet Farley $25

Barbara Inman $25

In memory of Linda J. Doughty $100

In memory of Marie LaGrange $50

In memory of Ken Cleaves and Lane Fraser $50

Edward Peterson $100

In memory of my husband and son $20

Michael Booth $100

In loving memory of Susan Ledger $50

Nancy Babcock $35

Deering Chapter 59 OES $100

In memory of James D. Wallace Jr. – Love, Mom & Dad $100

Anonymous $50

Laura George Almeida $25

In memory of Oma and Gramps, JPC $200

Molly, Maggie & the Girls $35

Charles & Suzanne Hedrick $35

Judy Benoit $100

Evelyn, Steve & Jack $100

Beverly Hastings $25

In memory of Don Johnson $50

Merry Christmas! Tom & Judy Jagger $100

Kenneth Spirer & Joan Leitzer $250

Anonymous $175

Crandlemire & Donna Coombs $100

Ray Kelso $200

In memory of Kevin McWilliams $50

William D. Scott $100

Pauline & Albert Noyes $100

Total to date $74,498.60

 

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