The willingness of Bermuda residents to show goodwill to their fellow man has been proved by their response to a story in The Royal Gazette .

Our Community section's "Letter to Santa'' on December 16 listed the wants and needs of various charities and organisations at Christmastime. And, since then, there has been an amazing rush to help most of these groups by making their wishes come true.

The first signs of the gift rush came at 11 o'clock on the morning of the 16th when the Bermuda TB, Cancer and Health Association received a phone call offering them a fax machine.

By the end of the day, according to Mrs. Elaine Harrington, the association had been offered two faxes.

She said: "We accepted the first offer from Insurance Brokerage and Management Co. Ltd. Their controller came round and set it up and then showed how it worked.

"It was amazing how quickly people responded to help us. Last year the same thing happened when we needed a dictaphone.'' Agape House, the Island's hospice for the terminally ill, were inundated with callers when they asked for pyjamas, nightgowns, slippers and dressing gowns.

Mrs. Karen North said: "People have brought in all kinds of things. There is so much. We have been very, very fortunate.'' Hovever, Mrs. North said that they are still seeking a four-slice toaster "from Santa''.

Paget Youth Club's appeal for equipment, uniforms and baseball caps has also been met with an avalanches of goodies and sponsorship from John Barritt and Son Ltd. The company also provided 40 baseball caps.

Youth leader Mr. Gerald Fubler said: "The response has been fantastic.'' The SPCA saw its usual influx of towels, blankets, toys and food for the animals at the Valley Road shelter in Paget.

Inspector, Mr. Louis Ray said: "There have been few people bringing blankets in, but we normally get people at this time of year.'' Despite the donations to most of the groups mentioned in The Royal Gazette some are still waiting.

The Senior Islanders' Club still needs industrial size cooking pots, Lefroy House is looking for a blue carpet and PALS need a fax machine and an oxygen concentrator.

But there is still time as Santa Claus is only due to arrive tonight. ..

HATS OFF TO SANTA -- Santa Claus came early to Paget Youth Club when John Barritt and Son Ltd. donated 40 baseball caps following an appeal in The Royal Gazette . With the caps are 13-year-olds Devone and Kevin Bailey.