We’re hopeful that this morning’s mail will have brought more donations to the Santa’s Helper Fund. With only three weeks until Christmas, we have a long way to our goal of raising $50,000.

As of Friday, we had collected $3,001, thanks to many generous people who included Santa’s Helper in their “to do” lists last week.

Raising this money is so crucial to The Salvation Army’s efforts to bring food, clothing and toys to families and children in our own neighborhoods.

Many of the niceties that sometimes are taken for granted during the holiday season are completely out of reach for many people around us. Their hope is to have the very basics so Christmas can be a little brighter than the rest of the year – when they struggle on a daily basis to put food in their mouths, clothing on their backs, warm boots on their feet in winter and a roof over their heads.

Please consider the Santa’s Helper Fund. Your donation will mean the world to those who have little to call their own and little hope of getting ahead any time soon. It will go a long way toward helping families and individuals in your own communities. The need is great this year.

Donations should be sent to Santa’s Helper Fund, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329. Donors’ names and donation amounts will be published in the Santa’s Helper column daily. Donors who wish to remain anonymous will be listed as such. Thank you in advance for your generosity.