As the year comes to a close, we publish our last Santa’s Helper column of the season. We had set a goal of raising $50,000 for The Salvation Army, and, while we fell a little short of raising that amount, we did raise a total of $46,733.54.

We are extremely grateful to all of those individuals, families, organizations and groups that chose to make a donation to the Santa’s Helper Fund. Be assured that your contributions, forwarded to The Salvation Army, made a significant difference in the lives of many families at Christmas.

Adding to the donations that have been acknowledged already are gifts totaling $506.33 for today that arrived from Anonymous, no town given, $21.33; Joanna Young, Bucksport, $25; Bunny Andrews-Haggan, in memory of Dr. Stephen J. Haggan, North Yarmouth, $100; Roland and Joyce Schoppe, in memory of sister Barbara Dorr, Ellsworth, $25; Anonymous, Millinocket, $100; In memory of Ken and Kevin from their family, Kenduskeag, $100; “Geneva’s DDGMs ’82,”‘ Hampden, $20; Joe Baldacci, in memory of his parents, Robert and Rosemary Baldacci, Bangor, $100; In memory of Eugene M. Kennedy from his family, Alton, $15.

Once again, we want to express our sincere appreciation to all of those individuals who chose to reach out and make a gift to the Santa’s Helper Fund. May the kindness you extended to others be returned to you at least tenfold.