MIDCOAST MAINE — Planet Toys has launched a new program to share the wonder of Christmas with kids in the community who really need some holiday cheer.

It’s called ‘The Planet Toys 2014 Holiday Stocking Run.’

Planet Toys’ goal is to fill 200-300 Christmas stockings with gifts for children in Knox, Waldo and Lincoln County. These kids will be chosen by local children’s service and other nonprofit organizations.

Here’s how the program works:

Beginning with Black Friday, and running through December 22, for every purchase of $75, Planet will fill a stocking with at least $25 retail value in toys, and donate it to a local child identified by one of the nonprofit partner organizations.

Planet will keep and publish a list of names of all customers who participate in the program, as well as the local nonprofit partners and suppliers, and thank them all in the local papers and social media at the end of December.

The gifts will be organized and wrapped by Planet staff volunteers and distributed with the assistance of the nonprofit partners.

Criteria for selecting recipients include:

Kids from families who can’t afford Christmas gifts.

Children of parents serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.

Kids with special needs.

Kids who have had a difficult year and could use a little holiday cheer.

All children’s names will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality, never published or shared with anyone.