Appeals to Toy Fund echo through the decades

The notes from parents arrived 30 years apart, but the message was the same: families struggling with rising prices and difficult economic conditions in need of help to provide holiday gifts for their children.

In 1951, the third year of what is now known as the Press Herald Toy Fund, fund chairman Matthew Barron didn’t mince words when he described the struggle families were facing dealing with high costs of food, clothing, rent and fuel.

“Some (families) are temporarily employed or in seasonal jobs,” he wrote. “Thus, when the Christmas season arrives, it is these children who are liable to suffer; to feel the hurt and disillusionment of a barren Christmas.”

Three decades later, the Toy Fund opened its 1981 fundraising drive in the face of record inflation and widespread financial insecurity that resulted in many families sending in early requests for toys. One mother told the fund that she just wanted to give her two children a merry Christmas.

“They are good children, but it doesn’t look as though I can give them any kind of Christmas this year,” she said. “(It’s) all I can to do keep food on the table and clothes on their backs.”

Many of the letters this year bear the same message. Families served by the Toy Fund are struggling to stretch their money as the cost of food, fuel and housing rise at rates not seen in 30 years. More families are grappling with homelessness and uncertainty about how to take care of basic needs.

One single mother said in a letter this year that she was grateful the 73-year-old Toy Fund is still here to help her give her three sons a few gifts for Christmas.

“I have been laid off due to COVID so I am collecting unemployment,” she write. “But almost every dollar that I have goes to our household bills.”

Thanks to the generosity of readers, the Toy Fund has been there for families in need year after year.

TODAY’S DONATIONS:

In support of my Dad, Carl Akin, who puts in hours to support & care for the kids! Stacy Akin Fawell $50
In memory of Joe & Judy Bromely, who loved Christmas & family $25
Merry Christmas from Carl & Rachel Akin $25
In memory of Ken Cleaves & Lane Fraser, both loved Christmas. Ethel Carmolli $50
Anonymous $35
In memory of George Grise, who loved Christmas and little children $25
Emily, Tommy, Gracie, Addie, Harper, Jordan, Charlotte, Mona, Fiona & Lacy $100
In loving memory of our parents, William & Martha Horr, and Miles & Roberta Thompson $50
In memory of Chas Towle Jr. $500
Jim & Liz Maier $50
Anonymous $100
In memory of our departed loved ones. MP & CP $100
In memory of Carleton A. Lewis Sr., Carleton A. Lewis Jr., Kevin Lewis, Nicholas Lewis, Gilda Lewis, Kelly Lewis $50
Benjamin Soule $50
Tom & Sandra Ingram $100
In memory of Henk Pols $300
In memory of Francis and Dorothy Donahue, from Eleanor $40
Bob & Kathleen Dorko $50
Virginia & Richard Culgin $40
Jonathan & Susan Young $100
In memory of our son Patrick Peaslee, from Tim & Cheryl Peaslee $50
Joan Kelly $25
Kenneth & Nancy Gordon $200
Anonymous $100
In loving memory of Babe, Podge and Mary $100
Darryl Arsenault $25
Eileen & James Ferland $500
Chip Flanagan $100
Anonymous $250
Thank you for all you do for children at Christmas! Women’s Riverside Golf Association $1,530
Ron Houle $50
Charles Staples $250
In memory of our parents – Anna & Domenico Floridino, and Philis & Anthony Peverada Sr. Love, Tony & Angie Peverada $100
In memory of Henry & Jeanette Gagnon $100
Anonymous $100
Jean Lloyd-Rees $100
Merry Christmas! Sharon & Patrick Lee $100
In honor of our 4 “grands” – Iona, Eloise, Wren, and Lily $100
In memory of Ralph Jr., and Janet I. King $50
Merry Christmas! Mark, Margaret and Alannah Barasso $50
Merry Christmas! $200
In memory of Gary Agger $100
In memory of Woody Bigelow and Sean M. Casey, from John, Deb, Connor and Jess Casey $200
In memory of Peter Moore of Rosemont $100
In loving memory of our son, Ted. $200
In memory of my mom, Carol Witham, from Paula Costin $50
In memory of my Mom, from Elena Schmidt $300
In memory of grandparents Marry Harriet & Joseph Crozier, from Kathy Crosson & Lynn Walter Bailets $150
In memory of Priscilla Montgomery $125
Molly & Finn Snow $100
Aidan & Reid Sylvester $100
In loving memory of Ron, Maurice & Vera $100
In memory of Tommy, who loved toys, both for sharing and playing $50
In loving memory of Althea Noyes $100
Hugh & Mary Smith $100
In loving memory of David Morrison, from Jo Ann Ray $50
Merry Christmas! Stephen, Shannon, Max and Jack $100
Anonymous $250
Merry Christmas! $150
In memory of Greg Foley $100
Donald E. Starr & Serena Wakelin-Starr $250
Merry Christmas fellow Mainers! Cooper Sherman $30
Anonymous $100
Merry Christmas! Gina Tupper Goulet $20
In loving memory of Matthew Stone $50
Merry Christmas, Sawyer! $50
Merry Christmas in loving memory of Don & Fran Hale $100
Ruth & Hank Foundation $200
Anonymous $30
Ruth & John Olson $100
Merry Christmas to all! $500
Happy Holidays! J & JJ $25
The Konstantino Family $200
Merry Christmas! The Giles Family $200
Anonymous $20