Just off Larimer Avenue, in a neighborhood with more than its share of poverty, violence and blight, there's a brick row house with a lighted Christmas tree in the window.

It's Tamara Thompson's way of saying, no matter what, there will be Christmas in this house.

No matter that she is trying to raise four of her own children -- and six others that she loves as if they were her own -- on very little money. No matter that, many days, she falls into bed exhausted, troubled with asthma and back problems at the relatively young age of 37.

No matter: There will be a Christmas for William, Diana, Zakela, X'Zaira, Ra'Yonna, Da'Quan, Martina, Xavier, Rai'Nelle and Zy'Juan.

There will be dinner from Giant Eagle that Ms. Thompson will cook herself -- ham, turkey and macaroni and cheese. There will be time to give thanks and spend time with family and listen to Christmas songs on the radio.

There's only one nagging worry, but it's a big one. With so many children, putting presents under that white, sparkling tree -- already decorated -- will be a challenge.

"I'm doing the best I can," said Ms. Thompson, who receives public assistance, Supplemental Security Income and food stamps to help provide for the children she has taken in -- mostly nieces and nephews whose parents were unable to care for them.

Despite a limited budget, Ms. Thompson is a careful and crafty spender. Clothes for the children -- bought for only two or three at a time -- are put on layaway, and every month there's a long trip on the 86B bus to Anderson Meats in Lawrenceville to buy supplies in quantity.

"That's where I get the best price," she says. "That way, I'm able to feed my family."

And that Christmas tree?

"I got that on clearance last year at the Dollar Store," she says proudly.

But some things, you can't get for a buck at the Dollar Store -- because children have a way of dreaming big at Christmas.

William, 18, would dearly love a digital camera. The others? Any little collectible or item to do with Hello Kitty!, Tinkerbell or Mickey Mouse -- although Martina likes Winnie the Pooh and Zakela is partial to Betty Boop.

Bringing Christmas to these children "is not an easy job. There's nothing easy about being poor," said Deborah Ashby, a volunteer at NAHBI Christian Ministries, which is trying to help Ms. Thompson and nearly a dozen other women in the neighborhoods near Larimer Avenue -- mostly grandmothers raising grandchildren -- make it in "a poor if not the poorest neighborhood in Pittsburgh."

By donating to the Goodfellows Fund, Post-Gazette readers can help too, by assisting 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.

"Sure, her home is crowded, but if there's enough love in the family you can do it, and I think Tammy's done a fantastic job," said Ms. Ashby. "But how can you feed 10 children and give them Christmas, too?"

Ms. Thompson isn't sure how to answer that question.

"I like raising these kids, and I can handle this number OK," she says. "But for the financial things, it gets rough sometimes. I am trying to maintain what we have, but I tell the children we may just have to make do this Christmas."

The Goodfellows Fund, now in its 62nd year, has a straightforward mission: to ensure that every underprivileged child in Western Pennsylvania gets a toy under the tree on Christmas morning.

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.

Today: .....$12,143.04

Grand total:.....$115,943.93

John D. Simon.....$500

Anonymous.....$250

Sam Yahres.....$250

In memory of Joyce Johnson.....$250

In memory of Joe Marlin.....$200

The Ray Labs at the University of Pittsburgh.....$200

Neil Strosnider.....$200

Anonymous.....$200

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Kremser.....$200

Steven Husted and Marie Connolly.....$200

John and Jodi Hyrb.....$150

Flexible Materials Group Inc......$150

In memory of Leni Vukmir.....$100

Marcia and Ron Bandes.....$100

In honor of Anna, Johnny, Sarah McShane.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

In memory of Ed "Pop" Sproull.....$100

In memory of Ann Giedl.....$100

In memory of Kevin Rayman.....$100

Margaret O'Shurak.....$100

Marlene and Dave Wohleber.....$100

Edward Kaliman M.D. and Staff.....$100

In memory of Gary Jones (Bill and Chris Weber).....$100

Anonymous.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

Ron and Nancy Bergey.....$100

Len and Diane Chuderewicz.....$100

Jeff and Sharon Evans.....$100

The Packer, DeFerrari and Hicks families.....$100

Frances Kelly.....$100

Bob and Laurie Henninger.....$100

Pat and Donna Bianconi.....$100

Feenstra family.....$100

In memory of Patricia M. Becker and Candida G. Lanni.....$100

Anonymous.....$100

In honor of Aiden and Sami Jo Bewick.....$100

In memory of Melvin Grimm.....$100

John Schwab.....$100

Koss family.....$100

Matthews and Scheiers.....$100

Dave and Michele Battaline.....$100

Jane Bisacca.....$100

In honor of Shannon, Kelsey, Emily and Aileen Knox and Kayley, Tanner, Danielle, Lauren, and Luke Zahren.....$90

Deborah Dawson.....$75

Jay and Susan Sedmak.....$55

Dr. Eric and Kathy Snyder.....$54

Anonymous.....$50

Anonymous.....$50

Emily, Jessica, Olivia and Nate.....$50

Ellen and Jim Henry.....$50

Anonymous.....$50

Greg Waldo.....$50

In memory of Lynn Brown.....$50

Bob and Georgia Grant.....$50

In memory of Mary Jane Chess.....$50

Dennis Pavasko.....$50

J. Patrick Hobart.....$50

Charles and Eileen Keil.....$50

In memory of Mary Fry.....$50

Nick and Judy DeGregorio.....$50

In memory of Elma Risaliti.....$50

Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church.....$50

Adam K. Smith.....$50

R. Hoffacker.....$50

Ron and Karen Bakalarski.....$50

In memory of Marjorie Hicks.....$50

In memory of Charles and Mildred Judy.....$50

Elma H. Robson.....$50

Casey and Paulie Berkowitz.....$50

Holly and Kenny Kristoff.....$50

Gary and Beverly Craig.....$50

Anonymous.....$50

Frank Archinaco.....$50

In memory of Richard and Josephine Kern.....$50

Anonymous.....$50

Anonymous.....$50

Aaron Rihn.....$50

John and Aurelia Killbuck.....$50

In memory of Charles H. Becker.....$50

Elisabeth Hess.....$50

In memory of Walter P. Kavalo.....$50

Carol and Fred McCullough.....$50

In memory of Jack Brawdy.....$50

In memory of Mary Carol Reisdorf.....$50

Jane B. Finley.....$50

A. Luksik.....$50

In memory of Kathleen Parker.....$50

In memory of Emeric and Grace DeLuca.....$50

Don Waltmire.....$50

In memory of "Magical Magic".....$50

Anonymous.....$50

Connolly kids.....$50

A friend.....$50

H. A. Coyner.....$50

Norma and John Melvin.....$50

Ruth W. Olliffe.....$50

The Lippert family.....$50

Larry and Bonnie Hayes.....$50

To God Be the Glory!.....$50

Bill and Bonnie Bendgen.....$50

Nick, Alex, Dean and Andrew Sherman.....$50

In memory of Winnie and George Silvasy.....$50

Anonymous.....$49

Tom and Donna Zolkiewicz.....$40.04

Kalynn and Jullian Young.....$40

Andrew and Benjamin Gardner.....$40

Cory, Bailey and Ally Klems.....$40

Gene and Claudia Gilmore.....$35

Harry S. Hartman.....$35

Janey and Ray Clark.....$35

Bud.....$35

Susan J. Bassett.....$35

Margaret Hook.....$35

In memory of Dad.....$30

In honor of Thomas Day.....$30

Irene C. Guy.....$30

Michael Dzvonik.....$30

Hannah and Dylan McCaskie.....$30

Wallace family.....$30

Wayne and Heather Evans.....$30

Paula Sak.....$30

Anonymous.....$30

Carolyn Phillis.....$30

Susan Woomer.....$30

Christine G. Krelis.....$30

Rebecca, Erin, and Colleen.....$30

Matt and Michele Hensler.....$27

In honor of our 26 grandchildren - Bonnie and Joe Baka.....$26

In memory of Pat Hollsinger.....$25

In memory of William and Maxine Block Sr......$25

Anonymous.....$25

In memory of MeMa.....$25

Ed and Cathy Miske.....$25

Sue Meyers.....$25

Jean E. Douglas.....$25

Beth and Allan Scaggs.....$25

Ardella James.....$25

Robert Kraut and Aya Betensky.....$25

Marie Pferdehirt.....$25

In memory of Steven Faloon.....$25

J. Mastow.....$25

Jacquelin M. Hazzard.....$25

In memory of Diane Pallay Brown.....$25

Mrs. M.B. Squier.....$25

In memory of Norman Hammond.....$25

Marv and Nancy Fry.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Fredricksons.....$25

Gray and Karen Nagy.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Bruce E. Barnes.....$25

M.J. Pesacreta Jr......$25

Fran Corsello.....$25

Judy and John Verbanic.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

In memory of Maria Fusca.....$25

Marilyn Britton.....$25

Eleanor Zehnder.....$25

Denis Hirkulich.....$25

Glenn, Patty and Austin Gougler.....$25

Ron Peters.....$25

Whitfield family.....$25

Stephanie Spano.....$25

In memory of Robert Barkley.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Peluso-Scisciani family.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

In memory of Erin Miller.....$25

Stella M. Davies.....$25

In memory of Shawn Froehlich.....$25

Patty and Sta Wojton.....$25

Amy M. Parker.....$25

In memory of Marty Leonard.....$25

In memory of June Johnson.....$25

Roy and Claudia Prendergast.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Dawna Martich and Michael Egan.....$25

Jim and Linda Stokes.....$25

Agnes M. Lewandoski.....$25

John and Joan Gehr.....$25

In memory of Josephine Hickey.....$25

Bernice Piccuillo.....$25

John and Lynn Fink.....$25

In memory of Andy and Irene Tokarski.....$25

Mary Ann and Tony Antonioli.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

In loving memory of Mrs. Dorothy Fletcher.....$25

Perry Highway Post 161, American Legion.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

In memory of O. Leroy Hitt.....$25

In memory of William and Grace Mitchell.....$25

Antoinette Faccone.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Clyde and Yvonne Moyes.....$25

James Uram.....$25

Anonymous.....$25

Ang and Pat Pittore.....$22

In honor of the McCrae family.....$20

"Victoria E. Heinz".....$20

In memory of Faye and Woodrow Dennis.....$20

Steve and Karen Malis.....$20

Paul Menner.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

William Dees.....$20

In honor of Dr. Uma, Kathy and Amy from the Cochrans.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Leonard and Lena Chakan.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Kris Martin.....$20

Mike and Linda Cvitkovic.....$20

Norman Kirchner.....$20

In memory of Zippy.....$20

Ed and Sonia Porco.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Edward Tome.....$20

The O'Briens.....$20

Justin White and Nicole Sivens.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Anonymous.....$20

Shireen, Bijan and Laila.....$20

In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Butterini.....$20

John Yoho II.....$15

Anonymous.....$15

Grace Ostrowski.....$15

Anonymous.....$15

Anne Marie Rose.....$10

In honor of Joan Gaughan.....$10

Carrie Grudzinsky.....$10

Szefi family.....$10

In memory of Thomas Stanko.....$10

Joyce Weber.....$10

Anonymous.....$10

Anonymous.....$10

Nick and Irene S. Staresinic.....$10

Robert HInds.....$10

Erin and Eric Milanovich.....$10

James Bartkowiak.....$10

Jan Lieb.....$10

Kathleen M. Blassey.....$10

Arthur Caccia.....$10

Lois A. Choby.....$10

Martin F. Costa.....$10

In memory of Loretta Proch.....$10

Melissa Dorsette.....$10

Victoria and Adam Martrano.....$10

Anonymous.....$10

In memory of Ann Alison Hoover and Mr. Klages, Spring Hill Goodfellows Member 1930s.....$10

Stephen J. Zivic.....$10

Anonymous.....$5

Lorraine M. Hall.....$5

Vicky Macey.....$5

Nellie M. Reedy.....$5