Starting next week, Times Record readers can begin reading up on who makes Santa Claus tick.
On a regular basis, right up until a week before Christmas, this newspaper will print a list of people who donated to the annual Santa Claus Fund.
There might even be a little anecdote from Dave Desjardins, chairman of the Santa Claus Fund.
Follow along, and see who’s making great things happen for local children this Christmas.
“Each year, each child gets a good package,” Desjardins said. “The people who knit scarves and hats start on them months ahead of time. These people give freely of their time and their money.”
The Bath and Brunswick Elks Clubs coordinate the Santa Claus Fund. They collect written requests from parents or guardians until Dec. 17.
On Dec. 19, they disperse the gifts from the respective lodges, as well as from the Bowdoinham and Richmond town halls. Those picking up the gifts must present a photo ID.
“These people work like beavers picking and packing,” Desjardins said. “We work every day, Monday through Friday.”
This year, the Santa Claus Fund is off to a head start. A week before the official November kickoff, the two Elks Clubs have received many letters from parents.
“We’ve already had a large demand for assistance,” Desjardins said, “and we haven’t even started the campaign. I’ve never seen this many letters this far ahead of time.”
Desjardins suggested parents are going onto the United Way website and contacting 211. People are invited to call 211 for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling — and the Santa Claus Fund Post Office box.
For those who don’t have Internet access, requests for gifts can be mailed to The Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O. Box 278, Brunswick, ME 04011. The Santa Claus Fund cell phone number is 319-4785.
Children must be 13 or younger, letters must be written by parents or legal guardians, and they must be within the Santa Claus Fund service area. That includes Bath, West Bath, Woolwich, Phippsburg, Georgetown, Brunswick, Harpswell, Topsham, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Richmond, Litchfield and Durham.
Last year, the Santa Claus Fund provided great Christmas presents for 627 local children based on 325 letters.
The mission: “To put a smile on a child Christmas morning.” It will be done.
lgrard@timesrecord.com
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