It’s Christmas Eve and families are gathering for the holiday. Scores of them already have given to the Santa’s Helper Fund, but more gifts are needed if the fund is to reach its goal of $50,000.

The total now stands at $47,733.16, or 96 percent of the total.

Thanks go out to the Messier Family and Friends Christmas Party, Old Town, $612; Mike, Kara-Beth, Gary-Dub, Matt, Jackie and Virginia, in memory of Grampy Dub, no town given, $50; Anonymous, Mount Desert, $100; The Bonzey Family, Jim, Sue, Nick and Janel, Bangor, $100; KeyBank and its employees, Bangor, $169.51.

Also donating to the fund were computer technology classes at Brewer High School, which raised funds through a holiday bake sale, Brewer, $130.50; Mr. Lucas’ fifth-grade class at Old Town Elementary School, Old Town, $15; Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gerow in memory of their parents, Dr. and Mrs. Isaac Nelson and Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Gerow, Milo, $25; Penobscot Pomona Grange 8, Holden, $25; James Lynch, Holden, $100; Terrie and Wayne Griffiths, Ellsworth, $50; Laurie O’Brien, West Enfield, $100; Kathryn Bourgoin, Orono, $100; John Harmon, in loving memory of Winston Harmon Jr., New Sharon, $50.

Other givers included Linda and Norman Webb in memory of their parents, Normand and Audley Webb and Gerald and Marguerite MacDonald, Veazie, $30; in memory of Adam Plissey from Love, Les, Wendy, Lauren, Paige and Jade, Houlton, $25; Lisa Morrison, Hampden, $200; in memory of Cassie and Gleason Scott of Minturn, Orono, $100; Bonnie Jardin, in loving memory of Mum, Tim and Hops, Cherryfield, $25; Margot and Joe Crary, Prospect Harbor, $50; Anonymous, Ellsworth, $50; Jayne Bartley, Millinocket, $50; Laura Merrill, Brewer, $25; Mary Bagley, in memory of Dorothy Honey, Veazie, $25; in memory of Kathleen LaRochelle, Hermon, $100; Jan Dowd and family, Hampden, $50; Ricky Bradeen of Medford, in memory of David and Louise Hughes, Milo, $50; Wesley and Gloria Hart, Holden, $25; Dorothy Bushway, Milo, $25; Woodrow and Margaret MacDonald, Millinocket, $25; Anonymous, Sorrento, $50.

A box of homemade hats and mittens was donated in memory of Ida Birmingham.

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