Merry Christmas! And a heartfelt thanks to all who have generously contributed to the Santa’s Helper Fund. Rest assured, your kindness has brought smiles of gratitude to the faces of many families this morning. Hundreds of little children who might otherwise have gone without are enjoying the toys The Salvation Army was able to provide and will enjoy a nice Christmas dinner as we all expect to do.

The most recent donations have come from:

Hermon High School Varsity Basketball Team, Hermon, contributing funds received from a bottle drive, $43; Janice, Betty and John in memory of their “Mum,” Jessie Calkins of Hampden, $20; entire staff at Acadia Sports Rehab, Bangor, $45; in loving memory of Louise Alice Sanborn, Bucksport, $25; Elena Mary Leighton in memory of Fred, Hazel and Marie Stanley of Winterport, $50; Anonymous, Winterport, $15; Outpatient Surgery of Eastern Maine, Glenburn, $40; Pamela Chute, Brewer, $50; Cathy and Donnie Murray, Holden, in memory of her grandmother, Marion Stoddard, $25; Charlotte Foster, Hampden, in memory of George Foster, $25; Anonymous, Trenton, $25.

A box of knitted hats and mittens were sent by Amy King of Lincoln just in time for Christmas.

Contributions also were received from Philip and Judy Sherman, Patten, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Howard McGraw and Norma Morgan, $25; Darlene Doherty, Lubec, $100; Anonymous, Calais, $10; Patri-

cia M. Dutson, Guilford, $25; Anonymous, Stockton Springs, in memory of Vivian and Ernest Watling, $50; Edmond Brissette, Ellsworth, $50; fourth- and fifth-graders at Helen Hunt School, Old Town, donating funds received through a bake sale, $10; Anonymous, Millinocket, $25; James Corro, Winn, $15; Anonymous, Millinocket, $250; Anonymous, Fryeburg, $100; Anonymous, Bangor, $100; Anonymous, no town given, $20.32.

Doris-Ann Gray, Milford, in memory of Frank E. Gray, $50; Evan and Luke Wilkins of Gander, Newfoundland, $10; Anonymous, Brewer, $10; Nathan Hall, Orono, $50; L. Mary Farley, Medway, in memory of her mother, Viola Brackett, $25; Anonymous, Winterport, $25; William O. Hubble, Levant, $10; The Murphys of Nashville Plantation in memory of John E. Albert of Madawaska, $20; Virginia Miner, Bangor, $25; Rae B. Tapley, Medway, in memory of Calvin, $25; Richard and Leona Carey, Old Town, $25; Mr and Mrs Kenneth King, Corinna, in loving memory of Steve and Cindy, $25; Christina Graves, Dixmont, in loving memory of her son, Jimmy Knowles, $50; Lucas and Michaela, East Millinocket, $25.

Mrs. Elaine A. Lowell, Birch Harbor, in memory of Bradley Lowell Sr., $25; Joan Chase, Hampden, in memory of Jack Chase and Vera Archer, $50; Michael Attenweiler, Orrington, $75; Margaret and Woodrow MacDonald, Millinocket, $25; Willard and Marion Colson, Southwest Harbor, in memory of their parents, $20; Students in Mrs. Libby’s room at the Hermon Middle School donated $40, and $35 was received from the Hermon Middle School Faculty, Hermon; Mrs. Smith’s first-grade class, Knowlton School, Ellsworth, $20; Mrs. Phillips second-grade class, Knowlton School, Ellsworth, $20; Christopher and Joelle Rioux, Orono, $50; Anonymous, Brewer, $50; Members of Brewer Federal Credit Union, Brewer, $86; Laura and Michael Whittmann, Bangor, $25; Kathryn Bourgor, Orono, $52.

Santa’s Helper has received a total of $44,124.60. Thank you to all of you who thought of others during this special time of year.

It is not too late to donate to the Santa’s Helper Fund. A final listing of donations received by Dec. 31 will appear in the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003.

All donations will go directly to The Salvation Army. Donations may be sent to Santa’s Helper Fund, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.