Thanks to the generosity of many Bangor Daily News readers, the Santa’s Helper Fund is nearing its goal of $50,000, although it’s not quite there. The total with today’s donations is $48,483.16, or 97 percent.

The following donations arrived Wednesday, Christmas Eve day: Mason and Aubrey Duplissie, in memory of Rick Ylagan, no town given, $30; Anonymous, no town given, $5; Anonymous, Old Town, $25; Paine, Lynch & Harris P.A., Bangor, $250; Dave, Abbie and Holly, Brewer, $50; Dawn and Stephen Bearor, in memory of daughter Chelsea Bearor, Hampden, $40; the Crawford family, in memory of Elsie and James, Hampden, $50; Cathy and Donnie Murray, in memory of grandmother Marion Stoddard, Holden, $30.

Thanks also go out to Virginia Edson, Orono, $10; Anonymous, Stonington, $25; Anonymous, Millinocket, $10; Mildred and Scotty Stanley, in memory of Carl and Jimmy Stanley, Medway, $25; Mark and Angeli Perrow, in memory of their mothers, Jan Perrow and Elsie Savage, Hampden, $25; Jessica Mieszkowski, Ellsworth, $25; Anonymous, in memory of Nancy Nelson, Camden, $50; Richard and Barbara Hamblen, Seal Harbor, $100.

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 Fund 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.