Father rebuilding his life seeks help for his children

A single father working to rebuild his life and make a new home for his family is asking for help for his three children.

He is in recovery from an opioid addiction and, in a note to the Press Herald Toy Fund, wrote that his kids have been through a lot and deserve a little joy this Christmas.

“I have been in a recovery program … since January of 2019. We have lost a lot due to my substance use over the years, and my three children have suffered from my decisions. Last year, in fact, they didn’t receive any gifts from me for Christmas,” he wrote.

“I have worked my whole life very hard and had always given them everything and anything they needed or wanted.” But, he said, “I have been out of work for going on two years and we are currently staying with family. … I am focusing on getting us housing and continuing treatment.”

He has begun to work again but has no money to buy gifts for the children, and he doesn’t want his mistakes to mean his kids go without gifts again this year.

“My oldest daughter … is 16 and has been most affected, having to move many times and watching me suffer from symptoms. She is very strong and smart and sadly has had to live through things no child ever should,” he wrote.

He also has an 11-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter, and says he is determined to make a better life for them.

“I am a very hard working, loving father to all of them and I am trying very hard to get our lives back on track and give us all a happy, healthy life,” he wrote. “It is very hard for me to ask for any type of help, but much harder knowing that my children have to go without because of my poor choices.

“Any help you can give would be a tremendous blessing for me and my children.

“Thank you.”

• THE PRESS HERALD TOY FUND in the Spirit of Bruce Roberts uses donations from readers to provide toys to thousands of Maine children who might otherwise not receive holiday gifts because of hardships faced by their parents. Now in its 71st year, the fund is accepting applications for toys from needy families in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Lincoln and Knox counties.

• DONATIONS to help buy the toys can be made at pressheraldtoyfund.org or by writing checks to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund and mailing them to the fund at P.O. Box 7310, Portland, ME 04112.

• FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 791-6672 or go to: pressheraldtoyfund.org.

TODAY’S DONATIONS

In thanks to God for all that I have. $200
Anonymous $50
In honor of our grandchildren, Henry and Finley, the Atwoods $50
In loving memory of Scott. From Lyndsay  $25
In memory of deceased relatives. $25
Richard Dana  $50
Steve Siket $50
In memory of Chas Towle Jr. $250
In memory of Jim and Janice Owen $50
In loving memory of Gam and Bump  $100
In loving memory of Darlene Jones, from Nanny  $100
In loving memory of Mom, Phyllis Corcoran 12/26/19, and brother, Miles Cummings III, 12/6/18 $50
Anonymous $500
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Anonymous $100
Marion Zimmerman $100
Riverwood Properties  $100
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In memory of Mina & Joe  $50
Anonymous $1,000
Thank you for serving teens $100
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Irene Mulkern  $100
Happy Holidays!!!  $40
Anonymous $100
Newell Augur M.D. and Suzanne Tenney Sutter Augur  $200
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Dick and Andrea Hall $150
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Marcia Blake  $50
In memory of Griff Jones  $50
In loving memory of Mike & Teddy Dickey, Love, your family  $100
Merry Christmas! For the children  $20
Nancy Vanites $25
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Anonymous $100
Anonymous $200
Ann Ramsey-Jenkins $100
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Anonymous $200
From Owen $200
From Larry & Cathy Clough $200
Walter & Judith Deskus $500
Susan Paluska $10
Daniel & Sherry Hutchins  $500
Ben Odom $150
In memory of Oma and Gramps – JPC $400
In loving memory of Brother Bruce $200
Anonymous $50
In memory of A&M $100
Anonymous $300