We want to thank the owners and staff of Access Self Storage in Topsham for hosting the Santa Claus Fund for the second year in a row.

Property manager Samantha Sucidlo has been a perfect host. She, along with her assistants, Maralee Duke and Bill Burke, have gone out of their way to make the volunteers feel welcome. It’s a perfect facility for what we do.

Samantha — better known as “Sam” to her friends — found us when we were essentially “homeless” last year. She called us and asked if she could help.

I was a bit puzzled at the time, but after touring the facility, I thought it might work. It turned out to be a fabulous setup for our program. Our office staff couldn’t have been happier. And, as we now can compartmentalize the toys, it’s perfect.

We can store, stack, pack and secure everything in a climate controlled environment. The volunteers have room to work and find it much easier to find the right toy for that special child.

We want to extend our appreciation to the owners of the facility. It’s a marvelous thing you have done for us. We look forward each day to going to work because the facility works so well for us. I hope that people realize what a great facility this is. Keeping your items stored in a climate controlled environment is so important when storing valuable items. I would encourage anyone looking to store their belongings to give them a look. Thank you so much for your kindness in helping the Santa Claus Fund this year.

— The mail bag was very light today. There were only three letters in our mailbox. It is a mystery to me that more have not come forward for help this year. That may be a positive sign that things are better in our area. I sure hope so. I don’t want little children to miss out on Christmas because we didn’t get your letter.

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Hurry and drop your letter off at your local post office today, or drop it off at our facility in Topsham. Monday morning will be the very last day we can process any letters. We deliver the toys to their dropoff points on Tuesday.

Send it to The Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O. Box 278, Brunswick 04011. We need your full name, address and phone number. List the names of your children, their dates of birth and their gender. But please don’t delay. This is the last time I can remind you to get your letter in.

— The locations to pick up your packages will be the Bath Elks Lodge, 12 Lombard St.; the Brunswick Elks Lodge, 179 Park Row; Bowdoinham police station and Richmond Town Hall.

The day to pick up the toys will be Wednesday, Dec. 19, starting at 9 a.m. Bowdoinham and Richmond will be able to dispense their packages after noon Tuesday. Check local business hours at these locations. Be sure to bring a photo ID when picking up your packages. This is extremely important.

— We received $30 from Joan Rogers in memory of granddaughter Allison, $25 from Tri Sports Inc., and $50 from Pre- Cast Concrete Products of Maine Inc. Thank you for your generosity. Today total is $105. That brings the grand total to $23,524.

— I would like to make a correction in an earlier article. Barbara & David King donated $50 in memory of Connie & George Risteen. I am sorry for the misspelling in the previous listing.

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Time is limited, but our mailbox will remain open. I will continue to publish your gifts until New Year’s Eve. Your tax deductible donation can be mailed to the Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O. Box 278, Brunswick 04011. I look forward to bringing you the latest news on Monday.

THE SANTA CLAUS FUND reports are contributed by coordinator Dave Desjardins, known as “the head elf.”

TO MAKE REQUESTS

Send your letters by Dec. 17 to the Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O.

Box 278, Brunswick, ME

04011. Put your name, address and phone number at the top of the page. Then list the names, the gender and the dates of birth of your children.


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