HUDSON – Walter Martin said he understood the importance of supporting local charities from a young age.

“My dad grew up during the Depression and he credits the Salvation Army for saving his life,” Martin said. “He didn’t have enough to eat. So, that’s been instilled in me my whole life.”

Martin, owner of Dyer Technology in Hudson, lived that lesson by donating $1,000 to the Santa Fund this year.

“We’ve been giving to the Santa Fund for several years,” Martin said.

“Families who are in distress are of personal concern to me, so I do what I can.”

Dyer Technology is just one of the local businesses that has stepped up to provide children of disadvantaged families a happy holiday this year.

The publisher of The Telegraph started the Santa Fund in 1962 to support needy children during the holidays.

For more than a decade, the Salvation Army and Nashua Pastoral Care Center have been helping the newspaper register families and distribute gifts.

As of Wednesday , the Santa Fund raised $38,256.03 for the 2011 effort – which will undoubtedly put a lot of smiles on children’s faces.

By this time last year, though, donation totals were at $55,538.42, according to The Telegraph’s records, putting this year’s totals at more than $12,000 behind schedule.

The depleted donations might have to do with yet another recession year clouding the holiday season.

It’s a tough economic time, Martin said, “But there’s always someone worse off than you are.”

Perhaps that’s the mind-set for the dozens of people who have written checks or delivered new clothing and toys for the cause already.

One anonymous donor gave $2,000 to the Santa Fund this year, citing “thanks for blessings received.”

Others made $10-$100 donations in memory of lost friends and family members or in gratitude for healthy children.

Still, in spite of the difficult times, many local companies continue their seasonal tradition of giving to the Santa Fund.

“Let me tell you, it’s been very tough on businesses in the local area,” said George Katis, owner of Nashua Wallpaper & Paint Co.

“This area’s very fortunate that it has such a giving and caring business community, that they tend to reach down as deep as they can, even during these tough times.”

Katis said his business has been giving to the Santa Fund off and on for 20 years. He wrote a check for $500 to the Santa Fund for 2011.

“The Santa Fund is more important than ever the past few years because the economy’s been so bad here in the local area,” Katis said.

“There’s so many more needy, and there’s nothing worse than Christmastime to be in that position.”

At Fairview Healthcare and Laurel Place in Hudson, residents and staff raised $1770.41 for the Santa Fund through out-of-pocket donations and a variety of year-round fundraisers, including craft fairs, bake sales and raffles.

“We let our residents decide which charity they would like to support,” said Brunilda Mejia, director of admissions at Fairview.

“We know that lots of families are unable to provide gifts to their children in the community, so they’re very excited and eager to participate in raising funds for this cause.”

Jill Gage, co-owner of Fortin and Gage, dropped off hundreds of toys and cash donations at The Telegraph last week that were collected during the company’s annual presentation of “A Christmas Carol” featuring Charles Dickens’ great-great-grandson Gerald Dickens.

“As with the show at the end, Scrooge gives back to the community, and we like to give back to the community,” Gage said.

As part of the admission, Fortin and Gage encourages attendees to bring donations for the Santa Fund.

“Its wonderful,” Gage said. “People are very excited. Some people feel sad when they get there and they forgot their toy, but they say, ‘Can I bring it back next week?’ and they do.”

Although Gage said the ticket sales and the donations they collected this year were a little less than last year, she said she assumed it was because it was a tight budget year for people.

“Obviously, you don’t donate as much when the economy is tough, but it still works,” Gage said.

“I think the feeling that you get just giving back, just knowing that you’re going to put a smile on somebody’s face, it makes you feel good.”

In 2010, the Santa Fund raised $111,585.92 for local children after getting off to a slow start.

Thanks to a surge in last-minute donations, the Santa Fund broke the $100,000 mark for the fourth time in its history.

Even that total didn’t break the all-time donations record, though, which is $115,541.55 raised in 2009.

In 2008 and 2007, numbers were $106,753.10 and $106,082.17 respectively.

With a couple of weeks left for the Santa Fund donation season, there’s still time to catch up.

“The hope is that we give the kids a good feeling,” Martin said. “It’s not so much about us.”

Maryalice Gill can be reached at 594-6490 or mgill@nashuatelegraph.com.