We recently received a call from Cheryl Frye at Roger’s Ace Hardware store in Bath, who wanted to collect toys for our kids at the store this year.

We came up with a plan to place a large gift box with our logo on it in the store.

As December days went by, the box began to fill up. On Dec. 15, Santa stopped by to fill his sleigh with the contents of that box. Before he climbed into his sleigh to leave, he thanked the employees at Roger’s Ace Hardware for their help and wished them all a Merry Christmas.

— While we were at the North Pole Annex on Saturday, we were surprised by Jim and Ruth Wilson from Brunswick, who brought in a brand new mountain bike complete with a matching helmet to donate to our kids. Minutes later, a young man delivered a bag of knitted sweaters, blankets and mittens from Priscille Bernier. I remember her from last year, too. Thank you.

— We received a donation from Elizabeth & Kerry Nelson: They mailed us $353 on Dec. 29, 2011.

— We finished packing Monday; the total number of children helped this year is 519. There were 254 boys and 255 girls. That was well under last year’s total of 627 children. I was expecting a much higher number, but this is a good sign. Maybe the economy is improving in the Midcoast; we certainly hope so.

— If you sent your requests and haven’t got your box number, call 319-4785 today.

If you live in Bath, West Bath, Woolwich, Phippsburg, Popham, Five Islands or Sebasco, toys will be available Wednesday at the Bath Elks Lodge from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you live in Brunswick, Topsham, Durham or Harpswell, packages will be at the Brunswick Elks Lodge between 9 a.m. and noon.

If you live in Bowdoin or Bowdoinham, packages will be at the Bowdoinham police station 9 to noon Wednesday.

If you live in Richmond, your packages will be at Richmond town hall between 9 and noon Wednesday.

— Today’s donations totaled $1,825. Fantastic! Our new total is $28,932. We are almost to our $30,000 goal.

— We received donations from Team Angela, which raised $400 in loving memory of Angela Black, who passed away this year. We are sure Angela is smiling upon you.

— James and Judith Gorby donated $50, William Cockburn sent $20, Dudley Leavitt Jr. and Louise Westrum donated $50, Frank Sparks III sent $450, Frances & Forrest Caswell $35, Anonymous sent in $50, Victoria & Henry Simpson $25, Annette & Jimmy Levesque donated $20 in memory of son Brad, Xi Beta Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi of Bath sent $50, The Nequasset Trailbreakers Inc. sent $25, Peter & Judy Labbe sent $100 in memory of Dave MacLean, Rynell Labbe, and of course, Alex Labbe. Another $40 came from Mark Brassard in memory of Jerry and Lil Brassard, $30 from Joanna & Griffith Jones, $100 from Smith Tobey Post 21, $50 from Celeste & Brian Perkins, $50 from Laurette Omicron ladies in memory of five deceased members, $125 from Elizabeth & David Steen for sons Rob and Tad and grandchildren Isabell, Ben, Emily, Allison, Tad II and Ian. Another $30 came from Alfred & Hildegard Green in memory of son and grandson Michael B. and Michael A., $100 from F. H. Woodring in memory of Ding Woodring, $25 from Clarence & Lucy Hodgdon in memory of Thomas Michaud, George & Davey Michaud, and Cote & Monica Bernier, and $100 from Lou & Ellen Ricciardone in memory of Astrid Daggettt & James Rioux.

Downeast Energy donated $100, Androscoggin Bank sent us $75 and Morton Real Estate sent $100. Richard’s Restaurant sent $25. Thank you to all of you folks for your kindness and generosity.

— You can still send a taxdeductible donation to The Santa Claus Fund Inc., P.O. Box 278, Brunswick 04011.

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