The day after Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday shopping time, though many have already begun or others may have finished their shopping.

As you check your shopping list this year, please consider a donation to the Santa’s Helper Fund. You can be sure your gift will bring comfort and delight to an individual or family whose Christmas would be rather bleak without it. Our goal is to raise $50,000, so we still have a long way to go.

We are happy to have received donations from Pauline McNally, Sherman Mills, $10; Justin, Brandon, Lindsey and Kylie, Limestone, $100; Ted and Ronnie, in memory of Glenn Woodman, Orrington, $50; Georgia Hutchins, in memory of Charles Hutchins, Penobscot, $50; and $15 in memory of Ellen Healey from John Healey, Millinocket.

Contributions also arrived from Gould’s Automotive and Machine, Hampden, $100; Anonymous, Milbridge, $50; Pinkham Bay Builders, Steuben, $20; Brent and Michele Slater, Bangor, $50; Robert and Shelly Gross, Mapleton, $25; and Lassell Comegys, Dover Foxcroft, $25.

To date donations to the Santa’s Helper Fund total $6,731.

Donations should 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 daily. Donors who wish to remain anonymous will be listed as such. Thank you in advance for your generosity.