Donor remembers the joy of a special gift: ‘It was a blessing’

Sharon Campbell Grant grew up in Portland’s East End in the 1950s. Her single mother relied on state assistance to support the family and never had money to spare.

But Grant has vivid and happy memories of unwrapping Christmas gifts as a little girl, especially one favorite doll. She would later learn it was the generosity of strangers who donated to what is now the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund that made it possible for her to have toys to play with and beautiful holiday memories to keep. It was called the Bruce Roberts Fund when Grant was a girl, a name she also never forgot.

Most of the thousands of children who receive gifts from the toy fund each year never know where the gifts came from. But it’s not uncommon for those who find out along the way to send notes of thanks years later, often along with their own donations.

Grant sent one such note last week with a $100 check. “Bruce Roberts Fund was started the year I was born in 1949. Every year, we had a Christmas because of you. Thank you.”

She and her family lived in one of the city’s original row houses on Quincy Street, which ran between Congress Street and Cumberland Avenue. The houses and narrow streets of that neighborhood were destroyed in the 1960s to make way for the construction of Franklin Arterial.

When she was very young, Grant’s parents divorced and her mother was left to rely on state assistance, she said.

“She took care of us wonderfully all by herself. But at Christmas time, if it wasn’t for Bruce Roberts, we would have had nothing,” she said.

Every year, she would get different toys and the family would celebrate just like other families did. “It was a blessing.”

She especially remembers one gift she unwrapped when she was about 5 years old.

“I got a baby doll. And then I got a pocketbook that had a little baby bottle in it and a little cloth for washing the baby,” she said. “It was wonderful.”

Grant’s gift back to the fund will now help other children make their own memories despite hardships faced by their parents. This year, the fund is helping a number of families who are homeless or struggling to avoid eviction because of rising rents and other costs.

TODAY’S DONATIONS

In memory of our parents, from Deborah & Allen Cairns $100
Marc & Martha Gagne $150
Every child should have a smile on Christmas morning! $500
Anonymous $35
Merry Christmas! Nico, Siena, & Megan $150
In memory of Grammy & Papa Joe, from the family $150
In memory of my Uncle Matt Barron $100
Anonymous $25
In honor of our grandchildren Piper, Scarlett, Dylan, Camdyn, Memphis, and Iris. Merry Christmas,! Love Grammy & Grampy Floyd $150
In honor o11 Great grandchildren! $75
Margie & Charlie Emmons – Cheers for Kathleen & Mary! $200
Anonymous $25
In loving memory of RBFTPS $100
In memory of my husband, Charles DeGrace, from Katharine $50
Martha Taylor $50
Laraine & Walter Lach $50
From Pop $30
In memory of my husband Earl, Who absolutely loved Christmas – Stasia Goodwin $100
Carlene Wax $250
Michael Curci $100
Anita Colpitts $50
Peter & Sandy Guild $100
In honor of the Westbrook High School 68 coffee group.Sandy $50
For our grandchildren, Thomas, Maeve, Leeds, Jasper and Finley $250
Dianne and Roger $50
Thank you for helping facilitate joy and happiness. Donated in honor of Sophia Fudge $200
Thorne Gary $100
Anonymous $23.75
Christine and Alexandra Caulfield $100
Merry Christmas, Betty Boulos $150
Ann and Leonard Guralnick $50
Anonymous $5000
Barbara and Karl Albrecht $150
In memory of Cheryl Miner Swayne, who loved children and took good care of them $50
Simmons Investment Advisors $250
Ramon, Joanna, Liana, & Ethan $100
Patty and Darrell Allen $100
Anonymous $75
Anonymous $100
In honor of Victoria, the Maine millennial. Steve and Judy $50
Anonymous $200
Anonymous $100
Jonathan Asen and Annie Reiner $100
E. FitzGerald $100