South Portland leaders are poised to grant City Councilor Tom Blake’s wish for a gift book that lists worthy causes and needs in the city to encourage residents to donate money to make purchases and provide support.

At a workshop Monday night, Blake outlined his idea for the city to publish a wish book to “provide direction, options and support for those seeking to give.”

He hopes to form a committee of four to six people who will develop a book that includes descriptions, photos and values of items and services needed by various departments in the city, from public safety to the city clerk.

South Portland residents already make donations to the city. In 2007, they gave $21,623 without solicitations. Blake told councilors that he believes that contributions will increase, if needs are detailed and people can give to causes that hold a special interest for them.

“Ultimately, we can provide a variety of charitable options and help our tax base,” he said.

Councilor Claude Morgan told Blake he supported the effort. Morgan said he recently talked to a family with siblings in Portland and South Portland that wanted to make a contribution in a deceased parent’s name to either municipality.

The family chose Portland over South Portland because that city already has a well-organized charitable giving program with a wish book that donors can use for reference.

Although Portland sponsors a gift book for charitable donations, Lewiston and Auburn do not have one. South Portland had a wish book in the 1980s, but abandoned the effort.

City Manager Jim Gailey provided a copy of the old gift book, which was a simple catalog of requests and price tags for items that included picnic tables, library books, trash cans, video equipment and an outdoor sound system for Mill Creek.

Blake said national trends show that more Americans are giving locally when they donate to charities, as opposed to contributing to larger national organizations that may seem remote and less relevant to their lives. Blake said he wants to tap into that interest in community giving.

He also noted that Americans in 2007 gave $270 billion in donations, an amount that is increasing, even in this tough economy.

Although South Portland has many families who are struggling, he said, it also has several hundred millionaires who cannot only afford to give, but also may be looking for ways to serve their communities.

He said a donor may want to underwrite improvements to Hinckley Park, pay for a new piece of rescue equipment for the fire department, or help fund the purchase of software for the city clerk’s office.

He said the Internet would enable the city to regularly update and post to an electronic wish book. He said the goal is to make donating as convenient as possible. Blake hopes that a donor may even step forward to offset the costs of creating the gift book itself or a brochure to solicit donations.

Councilor Linda Boudreau said she thought it would be most helpful to residents if they knew of specific items and needs, such as benches for playgrounds or new plantings for a park. Boudreau said families often make donations in a deceased loved one’s name and try to dedicate funds to causes and interests that remind them of that relative.

“They may say, ‘Mom loved flowers. Let’s help out with that city garden,”‘ noted Boudreau.

Mayor Jim Soule said that service organizations previously did not want to be recognized for their charitable gifts, preferring to give without public acknowledgement. He said that is not the case anymore and he thinks a gift book that allows individuals and groups to direct funds for specific causes, and to be recognized for their efforts, will be appreciated in the city.

Morgan said his only concern is not to overburden the city clerk’s office with the development of the wish book. “I guess I would say, ‘Let’s do this carefully.’ “

Blake said later that, with the city’s encouragement, he now plans to start forming the committee and get to work on developing the book.

Soule encouraged Blake “to dust off that old gift book” the city used to circulate, update it and see whether donations will increase.