Hundreds of families turn to the Salvation Army for help during the Christmas season, and making sure that help is available is a Bangor Daily News tradition.

The Santa’s Helper program has been active in Maine since the early 1970s. Capt. Charles Sargent, who was stationed at the Salvation Army in New Hampshire and had participated in the program there, moved to Maine in 1971 and was “very instrumental” in getting the same program up and running in this state, said Mary MacKay, program director for the Salvation Army in Bangor.

“We wouldn’t make it without the Santa’s Helper Fund,” said Maj. Debbie Burr of the Salvation Army, adding that while the organization would find a way to help those in need, the Santa’s Helper program facilitates efforts toward that end.

The Salvation Army really depends on donations to the fund to help people in need during the Christmas season, she said.

“The community’s always been very generous,” she said.

“All of [the money obtained through the Santa’s Helper program] goes to the Salvation Army,” said Elizabeth Hansen, director of marketing services at the Bangor Daily News, who coordinates the fund and ensures that donation information gets to the newsroom for daily publication.

“We had a donation of $2,005 from the Brewer Eagles Club,” Hansen said of this year’s first contribution. Each year the club donates amounts that match the current year. Donations come “from all kinds of people,” Hansen said, including individuals, families, companies, organizations, and even classes of schoolchildren. As of Tuesday, Nov. 29, total donations received were $8,102.

The Santa’s Helper logo on the Web site, bangordailynews.com, has served as a reminder for people.

“We’ve had donations way outside of our market area,” Hansen said.

The Santa’s Helper Fund program runs each year from November through the end of December. This year the program began Nov. 12 and will end Dec. 31.

Last year’s goal was $50,000, with a total of $46,733.54 received, Hansen said. This year’s goal is also $50,000, but with natural disasters such as the tsunami, Pakistan’s earthquake, the hurricanes on the Gulf coast and the prices of oil and gas, she is sure people have been quite stretched with their charitable giving. Still, she is guardedly optimistic. Some $13,000 had been raised as of Monday morning.

“I think a lot of people giving a little will help us reach our goal,” Hansen said, adding that the extent to which people in the community give is amazing.

Donations from the Santa’s Helper Fund go toward a variety of needs such as food vouchers for families, gifts to those in nursing homes and group homes, food for families, clothing for children and toys, both MacKay and Burr said.

“It depends on where the need is,” MacKay said.

“We cover people’s needs from central to Downeast Maine,” Burr said.

More than 407 families – about 1,500 people – received some kind of assistance from The Salvation Army during the Christmas season last year, said Harold Conners, director of human services at The Salvation Army.

Throughout the year, through donations from a variety of sources including the Santa’s Helper Fund, The Salvation Army provides food, clothing and shelter to those in need. Some 500 items of clothing per month are given to those who have lost theirs due to a fire, have had them stolen while staying in shelters, or have fallen into hard times in some way, Conners said.

“They work tirelessly,” Hansen said of The Salvation Army.

The Santa’s Helper Fund is part of the history of Bangor Publishing Company, a family-owned business, Hansen said. Several generations have participated in the fund.

“It’s really a priority for them,” she said, adding that those involved “are very honored” to make it happen.

A change has been made to the appearance of the Santa’s Helper column, which runs daily on page B1 of the state edition. This year it is presented in tabulated format and “will be easier for people to read,” Hansen said.

To apply for assistance, or to obtain information about the Santa’s Helper Fund, call the Salvation Army at 941-2990.

Donations may be sent to Santa’s Helper Fund, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, 04402-1329. Donors’ names and dollar amounts will be published in the Santa’s Helper column in the Bangor Daily News. Donors who wish to remain anonymous will be listed as such, followed by their donation amounts. All money received is specifically earmarked for The Salvation Army.