With the holiday season fast approaching, many local agencies are working to make sure less fortunate families are not left out when it comes to gifts.

All throughout the region, people are working to make sure no family is left out this holiday season. From the Toys for Kids program in Westbrook to South Portland’s “adopt-a-family” program, there is no shortage of ways to help out this year.

The city of Westbrook is sponsoring its annual “Toys for Kids” program for the sixth year. The program helps about 50 families in the city each year, bringing them toys and other gifts for the holidays. The Westbrook Fire Department pitches in each year, using one of its fire trucks to deliver the gifts throughout the city.

Michelle Mecteaux, administrative assistant to Mayor Bruce Chuluda, said the city is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys to be distributed to families. Donations can be dropped off at Westbrook City Hall during regular business hours. In addition to toys, the city is also accepting cash donations from area businesses and individuals. She said the city uses the cash to purchase gift certificates for older children and teenagers in lieu of toys.

Any Westbrook families needing help should call Mecteaux at 854-9105 by Dec. 9.

In Gorham, the town is collecting names of families who need gifts this season as well as compiling a list of people who wish to sponsor a family this year. The town collects donations of gifts from various agencies as well as private donations. Gifts for teenagers are particularly needed, and the town will also accept donations of gift certificates.

Anyone interested in the Gorham program should call Claudette Charest at 839-5210.

The town of Old Orchard Beach is paring up with the Salvation Army to sponsor a “Giving Tree.” Town employees and residents pick tags off a Christmas tree that has a child’s age, gender and suggested gift. The wrapped gifts are then returned to the town clerk’s office and the Salvation Army delivers them. For more information, call 934-2052.

Like Gorham, South Portland also sponsors an “adopt-a-family” program. The city’s welfare department selects a family and city employees put together a set of gifts for the entire family. For more information, call 767-7601.

But that’s not the only program in South Portland, the Big Brother/Big Sister program also gets involved in the holiday spirit. On Dec. 8, students from the high school will take their little brothers and sisters shopping for gifts to be donated to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. The community center is holding a raffle to help raise money for the program. The winner of the raffle, to be drawn on Dec. 6, will win a gift basket valued at $100. For more information, call 767-7650.

The program in Windham is unique because it is specifically geared toward teenagers. The town collects monetary donations throughout the year from individuals as well as businesses. As the holidays draw close, town employees take the money that was raised and buy gifts targeted for teenagers. For more information, call the Windham town clerk’s office at 892-1900.

While not all cities and towns have organized drives to help with gifts this holiday season, there is still a way for all residents to help out this season. Once again, the United States Marine Corps is sponsoring its “Toys for Tots” program.

The program, which has been running since 1947, collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to needy families. The program sets up collection boxes at various points and also holds toy drives. The next toy drive in the area will be held in conjunction with Portland Pirates hockey games at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Dec. 3 and 4.

For a list of Toys for Tots events and a listing of all of the collection sites, visit www.toysfortotsmaine.org.

Additional material contributed by Staff Writer Matt Crellin.

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