Trucks are dropping off pallets, and the volunteers are busy moving boxes to the third floor receiving area of our new North Pole Annex.

Inside, other volunteers carrying clipboards are checking in the merchandise. Still others are sorting and filling the toy bins.

Questions are the order of the day. Where is this going? What about this? Who is going to get the mail? Will someone answer that phone?

That’s because today is the Santa Claus Fund’s first day in our new facility. Everything is different, and the logistics are a work in progress. We have a plan but it hasn’t been tested.

We managed to move a lot of merchandise today with more being delivered Tuesday. This volunteer looks forward to Wednesday when the picking and packing get under way.

The mail was heavy and the office staff was busy opening envelopes all morning. This is the nerve center of the Santa Claus Fund, and nothing moves forward until the letters have been logged in, processed and approved.

These volunteers are working for you, so fill out your applications correctly. Avoid time-consuming follow-up calls. We can process your orders in the same day if all the information is in your letter.

Otherwise your letters go to another department, which can add another day to the gift-matching process.

Here are the guidelines for seeking help from the Santa Claus Fund:

First, you must be a parent or legal guardian of the children for whom you seek help.

Second, we need your name, address and phone number. If you do not have a phone, please give us a number where we can leave a message. If we cannot contact you when there is a problem with your application, it stops the application.

Third, list the children’s names, genders and dates of birth. We are able to provide gifts to children age 13 and younger.

Then mail your request letters to The Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O. Box 278, Brunswick, ME 04011.

The next step is to call us at 207-319-9317 two days after mailing the letter. When you call, we will give you a box number and a time and a place to pick up your package.

We have already received 34 letters. That is a lot of people seeking assistance so early in our campaign.

Each letter will most likely list multiple children. If it is only two children in each letter, that equates to 68 children.

That concerns me. Our projection for 2011 is about 550 children. I’m hoping the local economy is recovering. Only time will tell.

We will process requests until Friday Dec. 16. I hope the pace will slow by week’s end. But the volunteers will meet the challenge. Whatever the number will be, they will find the means to fill all the qualifying requests.

There is some good news to report today. We have received contributions to kick off our fund drive too. Ronald and Lillian Beard Haley donated $250. Constance and Robert McChesney sent $100. Robert Long donated $30.

The Brunswick Emblem Club donated $25. Cheryl Ayicelli sent $15. The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 202 sent $100. The Pinetree Branch 156 Fleet Reserve Association donated $100. Helen and James Smith sent $25.

The Sacred Heart Circle 551 Daughters of Isabella sent $50. Sandra and Stanley McCurdy donated $100.

That’s a total of $795. Thank you very much for your generosity.

We also received several knitted items too. Priscill Bernier donated several pair of mittens and some beautiful knitted sweaters. Thank you Priscill, and I know you have been there for our kids many times before.

We also received 34 woolen ponchos from an anonymous donor. Thank you to that kind person.

Early in September, I picked up several mittens and hats from a woman in Bath, who also wishes to remain anonymous. Thank you, Mrs. Anonymous.

Another anonymous talented woman dropped off several pairs of mittens and scarves at the Brunswick Elks Lodge. Thank you for your time and generosity, ladies and gentlemen.

If you would like to help us this year, you can send a contribution to The Santa Claus Fund Inc. P.O. Box 278, Brunswick, ME 04011.

If you would prefer to donate toys, mittens, gloves or hats, you can drop them off at either the Bath Elks Lodge at 12 Lambard St., or The Brunswick Elks Lodge at 179 Park Row, across from the gazebo on the Brunswick Mall. Just ring the bell and someone will greet you and accept your donation.

If you would like us to pick up your donation, we will be happy to do that for you. The volunteers are here to help local kids, and you can help us by providing the funds we need to keep the Santa Claus Fund going from year to year. Thank you for all your help.

By Tuesday, the dust should settle a little, and I will be able to provide a few more details about our progress. I look forward to our nightly chats here in our local paper, The Times Record.