Celeste Benzo, a busy mom whose life is dedicated to her three children and her church, said she is so used to giving that it will be a "a little weird" to be on the receiving end for a change.

But she said it would be "a blessing" to receive some help from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Goodfellows Fund to brighten Christmas for her daughters -- Israelle, Messiyah and Zyon.

"We're living on a shoestring. We are struggling," she said.

By donating to the Goodfellows Fund, Post-Gazette readers assist the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, which provides Christmas cheer for thousands of children in struggling families who otherwise might be left out of the holiday celebration.

The need is especially dire this year, with more families carrying unexpected burdens during the economic downturn.

Charlene Cunningham, an associate minister at the center, said she and the Rev. James Johnson Jr. nominated Ms. Benzo for the program "because she is a very special person who always is ready to lend a helping hand. She does a lot of volunteer work for the church. She was in charge of our children's camp last summer and did a wonderful job.

"She is a stay-at-home mom who is raising three well-behaved children."

Ms. Benzo, a Penn Hills native, has lived in Lawrence-ville for 12 years. She graduated from Penn Hills High School and started her college career at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. She transferred to the University of Pittsburgh, where she is one course shy from a degree in political science -- a theory course titled "Machiavelli to Rousseau."

She was married in 1999, had three daughters and then divorced. She shares custody with her former husband. He drives the children to school when they spend time at his home in Penn Hills.

She and her daughters are members of the Greater Calvary Victory Center on Mintwood Street in Lawrenceville, a stone and red brick building that formerly was the site of St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Zion church. The center will celebrate its first birthday on Sunday.

"The church is our home away from home," said Ms. Benzo, whose goal is to be an associate minister at the church.

She and each of her daughters is musically inclined.

Zyon, 6, "the family gymnast," likes to sing and play on the keyboard. She uses what she calls a "pretend" microphone to mimic the Cheetah Girls, a singing group whose movies are on the Disney Channel. She would like a karaoke machine and a necklace with her name on it so everyone would know it belonged to her.

Messiyah, 8, a sprinter, is "constantly singing and playing on her keyboard," her mother said. She would like a drum pad.

Israelle, 14, plays the piano, but the upright piano in the corner of the living room needs to be tuned. She likes clothes and would appreciate a mall discount card. And a joint control for a Wii game would enable her to play with a friend.

The mission of the Goodfellows Fund, now in its 62nd year, is simple: to ensure that no underprivileged child in Western Pennsylvania endures a Christmas morning without toys under the tree.

The program helps families hit hard by job losses, health problems, personal crises and other hardships that make every day a struggle to provide the basic necessities of life.

You can make a tax-deductible contribution to Goodfellows using the coupon on this page or online at post-gazette.com/goodfellows.

Every contribution is acknowledged in the newspaper.

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, in conjunction with Pittsburgh Cares, will hold open houses for toy distribution on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Point Park University's Lawrence Hall, at Wood Street and the Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown.

Those wishing to obtain toys should by accompanied by their children or bring documentation of the children's ages (for example, birth certificates or insurance cards) and proof of government assistance.

Today: .....$4,424.89

Grand total:.....$68,623.39

Joe and Alexa Bensy.....$250

In memory of John and Anna Yuhas.....$250

Anonymous.....$200

Al and Nancy Geiger.....$200

Melissa Stevick Reichbach.....$150

J. Van Horn / E. Adelson.....$100

John and Isabelle Holzapfel.....$100

Bob and Minnie Miller.....$100

In memory of Carmella LaBella.....$100

Paul and Lynn Raith.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

In memory of Mario Tiberi, a great friend. By Dan and Linda Steele.....$100

Ron and Phyllis Luther.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

In memory of Jack and Gloria Lewis.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

Barry, Linda and Garrett Zug.....$75

Joe and Ann Madia.....$60

Jim and Pat Welsh.....$50

Mrs. Fred I. Sharp.....$50

Anne Medsger.....$50

Anonymous.....$50

In memory of Enis Masciantonio.....$50

Amanda Samantha Thomas Wynne.....$50

The Knabbs.....$50

Janice Zahurak.....$50

Raymond Schutzman.....$50

In memory of Donald and Mary Welsh.....$50

Bob and Bea Jones.....$50

Michael A. Bryson.....$50

Bill and Joan Kuntz.....$50

Allan Lindblom.....$50

In memory of quadruplets Joseph, Patrick, Mairead and Roisin Crist.....$40

In honor of Steve and Kathy Mihaly.....$40

In memory of Alan Devine.....$35

Claire Emery.....$30

Samantha Luttner.....$30

In memory of Margaret Sisak Bobby.....$30

In memory of Daniel A. Perla Sr......$25

Tim Shank.....$25

In memory of Lew and Glenn Botula.....$25

Cartier Family.....$25

Susan and Tom Mooney.....$25

Isaac Voight-Cherna.....$25

Mandy and Dan Klink.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

David Koett Family.....$25

Mary Malli.....$25

Adam, Caroline, Sam, Frankie and Zoe.....$25

James and Laura Schepis.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

In memory of Carol Fehl.....$25

Paul and Mary Anne Gill.....$25

In honor of our military.....$25

P.A. Wuerthele.....$25

In memory of Harry and Genevieve Miller.....$25

Chuck and Carmella Hallstein.....$25

Sandra Gooderham.....$25

In memory of Herbert and Dorothy May.....$25

Joe Bartunek.....$25

Paul Kearns.....$25

In memory of Robert Walter.....$25

Carl N. Walker.....$25

The Trusnovic Family.....$20

Kathleen A. Furst.....$20

Zeke Reed.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Helen Vandzura.....$20

The Stanko Family.....$20

Mr. and Mrs. Rod Dady.....$20

Raymond Pyle.....$20

Burt and Judy Bowman.....$20

Lawrence Vaccaro.....$20

Bobby Digital.....$20

Lisa Primerano.....$20

Martha Repper.....$20

Edward Geiger.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Paul and Carol Morrison.....$20

M.A. Snyder.....$20

The Browns.....$20

In memory of Mark Anthony Natalia, Dec. 31, brother of DJ and Julia.....$19.89

Jacob Younkins.....$15

Emma Younkins.....$15

Casey Younkins.....$15

Matt Jacob.....$15

Maura Jacob.....$15

Anonymous.....$15

Wayne and Valerie Thiel.....$15

John Leindecker.....$15

Henry Moniuszko.....$15

Anonymous.....$10

Jean, John and Molly Chesmark.....$10

Mrs. Richard Follansbee.....$10

Anonymous.....$10

Nick Maslaney.....$10

Mrs. Mary Zyglowicz.....$5

R. Weiss.....$5

Peg and B.J......$5

Anonymous.....$5