Merry Christmas and sincere thanks to all contributors to the Santa’s Helper Fund. It has been truly heartwarming to see such an outpouring of generosity from far and wide. You can be sure that your donations have served to brighten this Christmas morning for many needy and grateful families and children in this area.

Thanks also to the Salvation Army staff and volunteers who have worked so tirelessly to make certain that food, clothing and toys were delivered to those whose Christmas was totally dependent upon their knock on the door.

Because of the generosity of so many, the Santa’s Helper Fund now stands at $49,699.47, which is only a little shy of the $50,000 goal. We feel confident that by Dec. 31 the goal will have been attained, and all monies received will go directly to the Salvation Army.

Today’s donations came from John Bapst Band, Bangor, $157; Bangor Christian School, eighth grade class, $71.39; fifth grade students from Room 26 at Helen Hunt School, Old Town, collected money for one month from bottles and cans left in their lunchroom, along with donations from classmates, $25; Dave, Abbie, and Holly Barber, Brewer, $35; Bonzey family of Bangor, $50; Mary Furlotte, Medway, $25, in memory of John and Ruth Furlotte; and Marline Nightingale, Garland, $10, in memory of Dalton Nightingale.

Donations also came from Dorothy Jordan, Argyle, $25, in loving memory of son Ronald Jordan; in memory of Vera Brown by her family, Hampden, $200; Norman and Linda Webb, Veazie, $50, in loving memory of their parents, Norman and Audrey Webb, Marguerite and Gerald MacDonald; Anthem Inc., $1,000; Bonnie B. Jardin, Blue Hill, $25, in memory of her mother, sister, and brother; Lamont and Debbie Ouellette and family, East Millinocket, $50; and Acadia Sports Rehab Physical and Occupational Therapy, Bangor, $30.

Also contributing are Ryan and Erin Johnson, Hampden, $50; Cathy and Donnie Murray, Holden, $25, in memory of Cathy’s grandmother, Marion Stoddard; Mrs. Beverly Miller, Old Town, $30; Winkie and Sonny Bartlett, East Millinocket, $50, in loving memory of daughter, Susan Whynot and Jim Whynot; Linda Smith, Sherman Station, $20, in memory of Jason Stoddard; and in memory of Virginia Sylvia of Jacksonville, given by the David Bagley family, Veazie, $50.

Donations also came from Flanagan’s Auction Service, South Portland, $50; Raymond E. Boudreau, Machias, $35; the Dickey family of Medway, in memory of John, $25; in memory of Gordon and Patricia MacEwen from Josh and Jenna Bishop, Bangor, $50; and Ashleigh and Zachary, Old Town, $10.

Contributing anonymously from Winterport, in memory of Joseph Muldoon, $1,000; Bangor, $50; Medway, $50; Springfield, in memory of Pearl and Estelle Jipson, $25; Bradford, $10; Holden, $25; from Plainsboro, N.J., $100; Bangor, $25; Carmel, $20; $40; and in abundant gratitude for good friends and family and the joy they bring, Brewer, $100.

If you haven’t contributed yet but would like to, please send your donation to Santa’s Helper Fund, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329. Names of contributors and donation amounts received by Dec. 31 will be published in the Santa’s Helper column daily in the Bangor Daily News. Donors who wish to remain anonymous will be listed as such, followed by their donation amounts. Thank you in advance for your generosity.