Laurie Babineau took a selfie with Santa Friday at the Auburn Masonic Hall, then decided to walk over to Big Lots to get some toys.
She bought a fireman set, a baby doll and a fuzzy toy, her contributions to a growing pile of toys that will be donated to children in need in the Lewiston/Auburn area.
“I work in the local schools and I see a lot of homeless,” said Babineau, who lives in the Oxford County town of Hartford. “It’s hard. It’s hard living. It’s hard for me and I have a good job. Kids, they need toys at Christmas. It feels good to give.”
Babineau was just one of the generous donors who dropped off toys on Friday for the 4th Annual Maine Masonic Toy Drive.
The Masons donate the items to local charities and the Lewiston and Auburn police departments, which then distribute the toys, hats, mittens and toiletry items to local families in need, said Martez Proctor, the worshipful master of the local Masonic lodge.
In past years, they’ve collected hundreds of toys as part of their mission to help as many people as possible.
“In regards to Masonry, we view humanity as one large family,” he said. “And we try to take care of that family in little ways.”
While the toys, hot cocoa and candy canes were inside the hall, outside, Santa set up his chair near the road where he waved to passing motorists and made himself available for visits from children.
On this day, Santa took a break from his usual appearance at LL Bean to help with the toy drive.
Abel Martin, 4, of Lisbon, spent time speaking privately with Santa as his mom Audrey lined them up for a photo.
After his visit, Abel was tight-lipped about their conversation. When asked by a reporter what tops his list of requests from Santa, he had little to say.
"I'm not telling you," he said, without skipping a beat.
Santa drew attention not only from the children. One adult woman who drove by on busy Turner Street rolled down her window and shouted “Hi Santa, Santa, Santa!”
By mid-morning, the donated toys included two skateboards, a football, a Barbie, a fishing pole, a bag full of hats and gloves, Nerf guns and a Pop-O-Matic Trouble game.
The Masons chose Black Friday — one of the busiest shopping days of the year — in hopes that Mainers out buying presents for the holiday season could get in on some deals and drop off a toy or two, Proctor said.
“Our community, the Masons, we look not only to take care of each other but take care of our community,” he said. “We’re here to do good things, to help other people.”