Contributions to the Santa’s Helper Fund are used to help real people in real situations. The Salvation Army is the key to seeing that people who deserve help get it.

One family who sought and received help this year agreed to tell their story. The father is a long-haul trucker who was forced to stop driving when severe medical problems struck.

“Things were just getting good, when everything seemed to go wrong,” he said.

“When I went to get unemployment (compensation), the state said I was ineligible because I had left my job `voluntarily.’ I didn’t have insurance, so it was very hard to find a doctor willing to look at my medical problem,” he said.

Without income, the family soon used up their resources. “I’ve heard it said that you’re only two paychecks away from poverty, but I never realized how true it is. It’s an awful feeling when the landlord is standing on your doorstep saying `You’re out of here.’ ”

The family was forced to move, and for the past eight months has been living in a local motel.

Eventually they were able to get some assistance from the state. “We really can’t do much more than just exist. When we get a check, most of it goes to the motel. Then we buy vitamins and stuff for the kids.”

There are four children in the family, from 5 to 10 years old. “It’s been hard on the kids, but they’ve been good. They were very concerned about Christmas, and although I didn’t tell them, they weren’t going to have anything this year. To make matters worse, one of my kids has his birthday on Christmas day. Then my wife suggested calling the Salvation Army.

“I couldn’t say no. I didn’t want my pride to keep the kids from getting anything. It’s a humbling experience, but it teaches that this state has a lot of decent people in it,” he said.

“The Salvation Army has been phenomenal. They put us on the Adopt-a-Family program, and it was a godsend. They found someone who wanted to `adopt’ a family with several kids. When my wife picked up the gifts and brought them back, I couldn’t believe what that family had done. There were at least four gifts for each kid. When I saw their faces, I went in the other room and cried, and believe me, I’m not one who cries easily.

“I wish I could thank that family. This is the kind of assistance you can’t put in words — you can’t put a price on. It enabled us to be sure that the kids had something,” he said.

“I’ve always supported the Salvation Army through the United Way, but I never thought I’d use it. I’ve always loved Christmas since I was a kid. Christmas is a magical time. This year I was really scared even to think about it.

“We’ve had a rough time, but I’ve had a chance to get to know my kids, and my wife and I haven’t been this close since we were first married. It’s been a real struggle, but it’s only a temporary situation. I have surgery scheduled, and I’ll get back on my feet. And next Christmas, believe me, we’re going to adopt a family,” he said.

Because of your contributions, the Salvation Army will continue to help families like this one. Thanks to the following:

Karen Davis, Orono, in memory of Donald (Jim) DeGrasse, $25 and in memory of Margret Givens, $10; Ruth and Irving Oakes, Brewer, $20; Joan Nestler, Bangor, $50; Friends from Ellsworth, $10; Barbara Sulinski, Stillwater, in memory of Sherry, Sylvia and Henry Miles, $15; a friend from Blue Hill Falls, $20.

Robert and Helen Seavey, Bangor, $10; Roberta Seavey, Bangor, $10; Pete and Eleanor Veilleux, Hampden, $15; Jane and Wally Palmer, Brooksville, $50; Bud and Pat Jeffrey, Hampden, $50; Gage, Colby, Heather, Kelsey & Morgan Small and Chloe and Garrett Brown, $50; Jonathan Saucier, Brewer, $25.