This plea from a young mother who has been laid off from her job arrived addressed to the Santa’s Helper Fund:

“I have a 5-year-old girl, and her Christmas is going to be very bad this year. She has two very small gifts (Match Box cars and coloring books) … I don’t like to ask for help, but please help my daughter have a better Christmas. She’s not a fussy child. She likes anything. Her favorite thing is Pocahontas …”

The Salvation Army hears hundreds of similar stories, and the staff tries its best to accommodate every reasonable request. This year, the Salvation Army’s mail solicitation has not been as successful as in past years, so the Army will be struggling to take care of everyone as well as it would like.

Your contributions to the Santa’s Helper Fund so far total $11,780.36. This is a good start, but far short of what the Salvation Army will need to serve its clients adequately.

Many thanks to the following who already have made a differ- ence:

Dottie and Kenny Ward, Brewer, $25; Kenneth and Kathleen Rowell, East Holden, $50; Joy and Alanson Robbins, Monson, $25; Anonymous, Bangor, $10; Phyllis Aiken, Lincoln, $25; Rodney and Karen Duplisea, Bangor, $20; Custom Cabinet and Millwork, Old Town, $25; Anonymous, Orono, $25; Winston and Thelma White, Sorrento, $100.

Glenn and Patricia Bergey, Winterport, $50; Winifred Wescott, Blue Hill, $10; Missy Harris, Old Town, in memory of Joe Clark, $25; Anonymous, Lincoln, $5; Dorothy Hayes, Brooklin, $50; Joyce Cooper Thibodeau, Winterport, in memory of Bob Cooper and Bobby Thibodeau, $25; Edwin and Jacqueline Cross, Bucksport, $25; Ilse and Willie Pfander, Brewer, $25; Anonymous, Bangor, $200; Anonymous, Fort Kent, $25; Dick and Fran Boone, Charleston, in memory of their son, Joe, $10.

Anonymous, Princeton, $20; Lois and Bill Comeau, Old Town, $50; Frances Vandez, Old Town, $15; Gerald and Nancy Beede, Bangor, $25; Delwin and Joan Blackwell, East Corinth, $25; in loving memory of Betty Michaud, from Millinocket, $25; Margaret Farnham, Hampden, $10; Richard and Sally Benson Cougle, Newcastle, $10.

If you would like to contribute, please mail your donation to Santa’s Helper Fund, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.