Please consider contributing to the Santa’s Helper Fund. The needs of so many individuals and families in our area are great, particularly at this time of year. Here are some excerpts from one letter recently received by The Salvation Army:

“Well this year it has been somewhat okay, but just these past few months it has been difficult. My husband’s pay was lowered $2 an hour, our rent is going up $50 more a month, electricity is higher and my family has traveled to Portland for our little girl who had to have ear surgery, so things have been stretched very tightly.”

Donations arrived today from Cameron, Riley and Angelyn, Bangor, $50; Carmel Senior Citizens Club, Carmel, $25; Anonymous, Bangor, $50; Anonymous, Bangor, $75; Smoke Free Singles Society, Old Town, $100; Paul and Helen Clough, Bar Harbor, $10; Muriel Doran, Lubec, $20; Sonja Shenett, Washington, $10; and in memory of the deceased family members of Mr. and Mrs. Milford Letourneau, Ashland, $100.

Also contributing are Clarence and Barbara Herrick in memory of Sharon Bunker, Guilford, $25; Warren and Catherine Hasson, Lee, $25; Helen Brooks, Robbinston, $10; Eaton family, Hampden, $25; Candace and Charles Doughty of Brewer and Jessica and Joshua Moody of Surry, Brewer, $40; Anonymous, Ellsworth, $25; Anonymous, Orono, $100; Mr. and Mrs. Linwood L. Carville, Orono, $25; and A. Linda Doucette in memory of Edward Doucette, Old Town, $25.

Thanks also to Pete and Eleanor Veilleux, Hampden, $20; in memory of Summer Keene on her birthday Dec. 7 Love, Dan, Penny, Alex and Liza, Greenville, $25; Brenda Kempton, Plymouth, $15; and from “Santa’s Helper,” Searsport, $50.

Also, a correction to a previously recorded donation: Derek Fleming of LaGrange in memory of Matthrew Fletcher, $8.

Today’s donations bring our total to $3,353. Thank you, all.

Donations may be sent to Santa’s Helper Fund, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329. Names and donation amounts will be published in the Santa’s Helper column daily. Donors who prefer to remain anonymous will be listed as such, followed by donation amounts. Thank you in advance for your generosity.