It’s late November in New England: darker, shorter days and colder weather — all remedied by seasonal traditions including turkey, inflatable yard decor and, for the 92nd year, the Sidney F. Smith Toy fund.

Begun in 1933 during the Great Depression by the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s then business manager Sidney F. Smith, the fund continues to accomplish the mission it set out to do 91 years ago, which is to give vouchers to families to provide Christmas gifts for their children. The fund will directly impact 1,181 children in the area this year.

This year, the fund is increasing the value of vouchers from $50 to $65 a child, which Gazette Publisher Shawn Palmer says is part of the fund’s goal of “making a bigger impact” for parents struggling to cross off their child’s wish list. A goal this year is to raise between $60,000 and $70,000 after raising $58,636 last year.

“It’s a self-contained model of community helping community,” Palmer said. “Its local people helping local kids with holiday gifts, and the funds raised go into local businesses.”

The Gazette absorbs all the administrative costs of the drive, collecting applications and mailing vouchers out to eligible families. Applications are received by local community outreach organizations including the United Way and Community Action Pioneer Valley.

Donations can be made by mailing them to the Gazette at P.O. Box 299, Northampton 01061, or by using the online portal found at toyfund.gazettenet.com. As donations come in, the Gazette publishes donors’ names in the way they request.

To be eligible for the Toy Fund, families must live in any Hampshire County community except Ware, or in the southern Franklin County towns of Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, Shutesbury and Leverett, and in Holyoke in Hampden County. The fund provides toys for children 1-14 years of age.

Vouchers will be redeemable at the following stores: A2Z Science and Learning Store, 57 King St., Northampton; Blue Marble/Little Blue, 150 Main St., Level 1, Northampton; High Five Books, 141 N. Main St., Florence; The Toy Box, 201 N. Pleasant St., Amherst; Comics N More, 64 Cottage St., Easthampton; Once Upon A Child,1458 Riverdale St., West Springfield; Plato’s Closet, 1472 Riverdale St., West Springfield; Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, 227 Russell St., Hadley; Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College St., Village Commons, South Hadley; The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 W. Bay Road, Amherst; World Eye Bookshop, 134 Main St., Greenfield; and Holyoke Sporting Goods Co., 1584 Dwight St. No. 1, Holyoke.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.