Christmas Fund 1995 Size Of Gift Doesn’t Capture The Depth Of Its Meaning

They say big things come in small packages.

In Thursday’s Christmas Fund mail were two small donations that represent what Christmas sharing is all about.

Lyssa Gooch, 5011 N. Napa, wrote: “I used to live in a makeshift cabin with no electricity or water. That Christmas an anonymous person left a bag of food on my porch. In memory of that Christmas, here is my ($10) donation to help a little with the fund.”

And a donor requesting anonymity gave $14.02 - the first paycheck in 11 years. “Hurray!” she wrote. “My future seems to be going upward and I can spare my first check to someone in need - and who knows, maybe it is contagious and will bring good fortune to someone else.”

Another example: Years ago, the Alan Stacey family stood in line at the Christmas Bureau for a food voucher and toys for their children. “Now I try to give each year since I know just how much the Christmas Fund meant to us,” wrote Alan Stacey, who with Pam Crommer gave $60.

Could anything speak more eloquently of the Christmas spirit than those letters?

The staff of Armand DeFelice, DDS, gave $93 rather than exchange gifts; Flo M. Fiveash, 3424 N. Alberta, gave $75, as did Bob and Darla Kidd, Athol, Idaho, as a gift to her parents. Two East Valley High School classes, requesting anonymity, gave $69.05; Barbara Bumann, 1923 W. Knox, gave $65; and Sheri Barnard, 1703 E. Pinecrest Road and Alice Ladrath, together gave $60.

Carolyn and Tony Courtwright gave $55 “in memory of Grandma Shepard”; the Private Banking Department of Sterling Savings gave $54. Making $50 contributions were Wayne, Kathy and Daniel Reid; Frank and Shelly Sousa, 1611 E. Broad, in memory of their grandfather, John Ferra; L.W. and Laura Isaak, Loon Lake; the second-grade classes of Mrs. Allwardt and Mrs. Dahlquist of Ness Elementary, 9612 E. Cataldo; and Eric and Heather Vockeroth, 2103 W. Riverside.

Other $50 gifts came from Jack and Vera Calvert, 13621 Stone Lane; Charlie Rohrbach and Mike Frederick; Darrell and Laureen Monasmith, 5922 N. Summit Lane; Evelyn Garmen, 2927 S. Howard; Jack and Christe Indgjerd, 4315 S. Tampa; Steve and Patsy Shea, “in loving memory of our daughter, Angela”; and Michael, Christine and Patrick Carbery, “in loving memory of Anne (Ladish) Albano and Michael Ladish, who loved to spend Christmas with their family.”

Bob and Dorothy Skindlov, 2304 E. Cedarwood Court, also gave $50, as did the Watsons, 819 W. 21st; Charles Pierce, 1718 S. Linda Lane; Bruce Chandler, Newport, Wash.; Ralph and Shirlee Polson 11610 E. Grace, “in loving memory for those in our family who are now in His care”; and A. Rizzuto, 5914 N. Elm.

Also giving $50 were Len and Ruth Swanson, 12708 E. Saltese Road, “to keep someone from having a ‘blue Christmas’ and change it to a ‘Merry Little Christmas”’; Ike and Pat Ballinger, 5310 W. Pacific Park Drive; Delcie Ogle, 2929 S. Waterford Drive; and Mildred and Don Hamilton, 2645 E. Foxwood Court, in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.

Pamela Rohr lost a bet with Maria Trunkenbolz, who “graciously insisted” the debt be repaid with a $50 check to the Christmas Fund.

Others giving $50 were Andria and Capt. Christopher McDonald; Loris and Maren Kuest, 1314 W. Courtland, “in memory of an extra-special sisterin-law, Jeannette Kuest”; Gene and Carolyn Brower; R.K. McDonald, 6737 N. Greenwood Blvd.; and Susan Loucks, 12111 E. Cataldo, with: “No person made a greater mistake than the one who did nothing because he or she could only do a little,” by Edmund Burke.

Xi Beta Phi, 5108 N. Howard, gave $50, as did Phillip and Shirley Menzel, 5606 W. Cree Court; Bill and Carol Voogd, 10015 N. Moore; and Katheryn Yanzick,, Chattaroy, “in loving memory of my dad, William Harms Sr., and my dear friend, Beverly Mattausch, who are missed.”

Other $50 gifts came from Stan and Gladys Brown, 3320 E. Courtland; Terry Rayburn Mitchell and his son, Andy, 2822 W. Upton, “in memory of our dad and granddad, C.E. ‘Swede’ Rayburn. We hope this gift will help make someone’s Christmas as wonderful as ours were when we spent them with him”; and 12 anonymous donors, including one “in honor of the religious education teachers of St. Augustine who teach our children”; one in memory of “Poppy,” and one from Grand Coulee, with the message, “My son will receive more than one package under the tree and have a good Christmas dinner. I hope this helps even just one family.”

Mead High School’s first and second period classes of Current Issues sent $43.23 with an additional $10 from student and spokesman Brian Hess.

Duanita Higgins, Newport, Wash., gave $40; $35.76 in “found money” collected during the year from sofa cushions, the washing machine, car, etc. came from Daniel Rossi, 8, and Rachel Rossi, 5, and their parents, “especially their dad, whose pockets tend to spill a lot of change into the cushions.”

Those donating $35 were Douglas Jayne, 8511 E. Upriver Drive; Marian and Leonard Pearson, 2715 E. Mount Vernon Drive. Giving $30 were Jill Reynolds, “for the real meaning of Christmas”; Bill and Susan Mulvihill, “in memory of our dear friend Jackie Robertson … who truly knew the spirit of giving”; the Siers, 6008 N. Lindeke.

The sixth-grade Hamblem Elementary students, also gave $30 “in hopes it will brighten some families’ Christmas holiday.” The letter was signed by Sarah Byelick, Sarah Campbell, Ashley Raney, Megan Camp, Alex Umbdenstock, James Keane, Tara Reidburn and Jessica Rascoff.

Other $30 donations came from Mary Fagan and Michael Schnell, 1419 E. 20th; Deb Walter and Tim Clinton, 10705 N. Klamath Court; Jan Wallace, 4412 N. Center Road; Ray and Diane Johnson, 7017 N. Normandie, “in honor of our beautiful grandson, Ryan, who reminds us that every child should know the magic of Christmas”; and three anonymous contributors.

Those contributing $25 were William Edelblute; Terry and Nancy Shatto, 14812 E. 21st; Jackie Reason, 5329 W. Princeton; Sherm and Betty Blake, 3419 E. Montgomery; and Rich and Michele and daughters Rachel and Rebeccah “in memory of Great-grandma Helen Chandler. This will be our first Christmas without her and we want some special way to remember her at this time of year.”

Other $25 gifts came from A. James Caddis, 2509 S. Tekoa; Frank and Barbara Ciylo, 5316 E. 18th; Marylee Moglia “for my husband, Al. He works hard so I can stay home with our little one. He is a loving, caring husband and father”; Mildred Stoeser, in memory of Pete Presta, who died Dec. 2, and my brother, Ben Williams, who died in 1993 and was one of Pete’s best friends.”

Also giving $25 were Krystal, Kery and Kourtney, “in loving memory of Great-grandpa ‘Bumpa’ Cliff Malcolm, who passed away this year”; Donna DuBois, 308 W. 17th, “in loving memory of my mother, Mary, who unconditionally loved people and had faith in everyone.”

Wayne and Nancy Wright, 3614 W. Lyons, also gave $25, as did Margaret Burke, 1104 W. 19th, in memory of Helen Breen; Opal Dutt, Spokane; P. Wopat, 2127 S. Madison; Patty Neilsen, 2403 E. Empire, in memory of her mother, Juanita Neilsen; John Jr. and Lisa Whalen, Nine Mile Falls; and Melvin and Gloria McCuddin, 10301 E. Empire Way.

Other $25 gifts came from Ken, Leslie, Adam, Emily, Andy and Kelsey Brown, 4615 E. Sumac Drive, “in honor of our grandmother and greatgrandmother, Helen M. Legge, 92 years young, who says she doesn’t need anything.”

John and Marlene LaBute, Deer Park, gave $25 as did Gerald Johnson, 8101 S. Hilby Road; Kevin and Gail Heacox, 16102 N. Glencrest Drive; Claudia and Richard Kroll, Nine Mile Falls; Robert and Cecile LaFountain, 10424 E. 24th; the Morriseys, 4320 W. Olympic; Nancy, Doug and Scott Sefvert; Dawn Tedrow, 2829 W. Houston; Larry and Agnes Mellon, 2026 E. Empire; Jan Hayes; and seven anonymous donors.

Those contributing $20 were M.L. Miller, Medical Lake; Santa Rosa, 1519 E. 29th; the Browns, in memory of Mike McQuirk; Carrie Van Koten of Downstairs Designs, 3810 E. 35th; Betty Watkins, 1322 W. Nebraska; Marv, Robin and Mitch; Edward Ellefsen, 2914 W. Cleveland; Larry and Clareen Hooper, 5418 W. Bedford, to honor Anthony, their first grandson, born in July.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Rider, 212 S. Progress, gave $20 as did James Bierly, 4903 N. Adams, and three anonymous donors.

Mrs. Clarke’s fifth grade class at Trentwood Elementary gave $17.85. An anonymous donor of Washington Trust’s Corporate Banking Division, gave $15 from the department’s eighth annual silent auction; one anonymous donor also gave $15.

Donating $10 were the Sandy Sue Garden Club; Katie Meyers; and four anonymous donors, one in memory of a son.

, DataTimes