More than 2,500 Maine children are in state custody, taken from their homes to protect them from abuse or neglect and placed with foster families or relatives, or, in many cases, living in hotels and awaiting temporary placement.
It is the highest number in at least twenty years. And that doesn’t include many others who are not being monitored by the state and who have been taken in by relatives or friends because their parents cannot care for them.
Many of these children are among the more than 4,000 who will receive Christmas presents in the coming days thanks to the donors and volunteers who support the Press Herald Toy Fund.
This year, more than ever in recent history, the Toy Fund has heard from foster families and guardians overwhelmed by the pressures of a strained child welfare system and the same cost-of-living increases that have pushed so many other families to the brink, or beyond . them.
These letters from foster parents reflect the same selflessness that brought children into their homes in times of need, and the hope that they can provide a measure of stability to the children who need and deserve it.
“I’m asking for help for the children to make Christmas as normal as possible. I am a grandmother raising my grandson, as well as a foster child that I am currently adopting,” wrote a woman from southern Maine.
“I adopted three children from my sisters (and) I have three children of my own,” another mother wrote. “All eight of us live in my two-bedroom mobile home. We all have jobs and work, the kids are doing great at school and we are making the best of our situation, but it sure is tight and we can use all the help we can get!!!”
“I am looking for some help at Christmas this year due to the unexpected placement of two foster children,” wrote a mother from central Maine. “When I took in my two foster children, I was working full time, but with two little ones and a school-age child (of my own), I had to adjust my availability to work around my small family and they refused to do that. which ultimately led to me being out of work for a while.”
“I have two biological sons, a grandson, an adopted daughter, three foster children and my elderly parents to care for. As a result, I can only work part-time and need help making sure they all have a happy Christmas,” a Cumberland County mother wrote to the Toy Fund.
“My partner and I have four young foster children for the holidays this year, but unfortunately due to the cost of living we can’t offer them much during the holidays,” wrote a Midcoast father. “We are both working but our hours will be reduced during the non-touristy time of year and we will be looking for a little help to ensure these children have a decent holiday while they are at home with us.”
Donations to the Toy Fund are used to purchase new toys and books for children who might not otherwise expect the simple childhood joy of the holidays. It’s a tradition that started 75 years ago and has only continued thanks to the generosity of readers and the efforts of volunteers.
HOW TO HELP
To make a donation online, visit pressherald.com/toy-fund.
Checks made out to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund can be sent to 295 Gannett Drive, South Portland ME 04106.
Donor names are published in the Press Herald unless a donor wishes to remain anonymous.
TODAY’S DONATIONS:
From 10 girls and 1 boy, Cynthia Hughes $100
Edward and Joyce Gervais $150
Martha and Hollis McBride $100
Anonymous $100
To David and Trisha, David Fayan $200
Benjamin Soule $50.00
Ursula and Chadwick Nehrt $200
Bernard and Penelope Davala $100
Kenneth and Nancy Gordon $100
Karl and Joanne Andersen $25
In memory of George and Frances Smith, from your daughter Theresa $50
In memory of Margery Murphy, anonymous $200
Ronald and Barbara Boes $200
In memory of my brother Woody, with love from his sister Jerri $210.73
Happy Holidays! Dan and Ruthann Baker $100
Anonymous $50
In memory of our parents: William and Martha Horr and Miles and Roberta Thompson Richard and Jill Horr $50
In memory of Blanche and Fernald Goulette, from the Elaine Goulette family $50
Sonja Malhotra $40
Helen Way $50
Merry christmas! Joe and Cindy Wyman $100
For the little people, Patricia Clark $200
Ridgeland Garden Seniors $108
Anonymous $100
Kris and Tim Masse $1,000
Anonymous $25
Carol and Dick Peterson $500
In memory of Jean Gannett Hawley, Timothy and Elizabeth Williams $1,000
Linda Hanscom $100
In memory of Bill and Barbara Caswell, Susan J. and Donald C. Foss Jr. $50
In memory of Lora A. Lemanski and Frank Adam Lucas, Frank A Lemanski $75
Debby and Peter Murray, Murray Charitable Trust $200
Teresa W. Messer $100
Anonymous $100
In memory of Suzy and Angel, Kenneth and Pauline Curtis $200
Anonymous $25
Tom and Sandra Ingram $100
To the children with love, Irene and Frank Discatio $1,000
In memory of Gam and Bump, Susan Soule $25
Please accept this donation in memory of Henk Pols. Thanks, Linda and Richard Baird $300
Merry christmas! Congratulations on 75 years of giving! Kristen L. Damuth $100
Daniel L and Ellen Richards $125
From MELMO, Jack and Virginia Clements $50
In memory of the Hines and Harrigan family. From the family $25
Nancy Keith-Maki $50
In Memory of Nana, Maxine Hartford’s 100th Birthday for Children – Who Loved Christmas, Kathleen H. Carr $100
To all the earth angels who help so many families. Thank you. Jim and Peggy Folland $300
Anthony Debruyn $250
Merry Christmas and God bless you all! Julie-Ann Colbert $100
Given by my great-grandchildren, Patricia S. & Brian R. Hussey $150
In memory of Bunny Murphy and Susan Butler, Elizabeth Murphy $105.52
In loving memory of Uncle Bob. From the Miller Family $75
Jane F Henry $100
In memory of Priscilla Scala, Mary J. & Joseph L. Scala $100
Peter D & Kristen A. Lemay $75
In memory of Reed & McAloney Families, Ameriprise Financial $50
Paul R. Cullinan and Margaret C. Burby $50
In memory of our loved ones, Dick and Patty Brown $50
Anonymous $650
Priscilla G. Oneil $100
In memory of my father, Donald Hawkes $100
Season’s greetings to everyone! Jim and Janet Bither $100
Bevalie and Neal Marean $50
Deborah F. & Thomas S. Coward $100
Anonymous $50
Patrick and Sharon Lee $100
In memory of Laurence S. Allen, Sr. and Lou F. (Allen) Nichols of Beverly, Missy, Larry, Donna and Lonnie Allen $50
In memory of Mom and Dad Perry of Beverly, Missy and Lonnie Allen $50
Merry christmas! Susan and David Haynes $100
TOTAL TO DATE: 140,380.50
Copy the story link