Christmas Fund 1995 Trust Helps Nudge Fund Past $377,000 More Than 25,000 Received Boost By The Time Volunteers Went Home

When the Christmas Bureau doors closed Friday afternoon, there was a collective sigh of relief.

Bureau volunteers worked hard the last two weeks, interviewing applicants, distributing food vouchers, arranging toys for parents to pick for their children.

When the last person left with his voucher and toys, 25,077 children and adults had received the bounty of benevolence of Spokane-area residents who actively demonstrated concern for their neighbors this Christmas season.

Although the prospect of achieving the $380,000 goal appeared impossible at the beginning of the drive and looked bleak at the beginning of this week, Christmas Bureau officials acted on faith that enough money would arrive and kept serving those who needed a holiday boost.

Friday’s receipts totaled $21,792.97, bringing a year-to-date figure of $377,355.26!

Can’t you just hear that choir of angels rehearsing their rendition of “Hallelujah”?

The David and Dorothy Pierce Trust, managed by the Trust Division of Washington Trust Bank, donated $2,000 to the Christmas Fund, wrote William Moore, senior vice president and manager.

The Pierce Trust has been a part of the Christmas Fund’s history since 1961, when Norma Pierce, David’s widow, established the trust upon her death in memory of her husband and their daughter, Dorothy.

David Pierce’s piece of Spokane history began with his saddle and leather goods business on Riverside Avenue that was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1889. When the ashes were cleared, Pierce relocated at 923 W. First where he remained until the late 1930s.

What a wonderful legacy Norma Pierce perpetuated with that trust. Just think of the many thousands of families and children the trust has helped over the years.

Contributing $1,000 to the 1995 Christmas Fund, recorded with Friday’s receipts, are Modern Drywall Inc., 9516 E. First, and three anonymous donors. Employees of Spokane’s Coopers & Lybrand, LLP, 601 W. Riverside, decided the holiday season would be more joyous if they shared their success with others, wrote Gordon Budke, managing partner. Their $775 check represents their collective efforts.

Ken Roberts and Janet Gomer gave $500, as did two anonymous donors, including one whose gift was “in loving memory of Celia Ferger, Bill, Emma, Vicky and Rod.” Chase, Hayes & Kalamon, Attorneys at Law, Seafirst Financial Center, donated $490.

The youngsters in the YMCA’s Kanga and Roos classes of 2-year-olds walked over a collection of coins from them and dollars from their parents for a total of $442.89. The Freeman High School Future Homemakers of America and the Heroes Club sponsor a schoolwide movie day and donate the proceeds to charity, said Jamie Meenach, president. The students gave $418.08 to the Christmas Fund.

An anonymous gift of $390 was received; employees of Garco Building Systems, combined with a corporate gift, gave $300 to the Christmas Fund as well as adopting seven individual families, supplying gifts and food; $250 gifts came from Robert and Jean Stier, 1010 Comstock Court, and from Dellwo, Roberts & Scanlon, P.S., Attorneys at Law, 613 S. Washington.

Richard Jury of the Hillyard Dental Clinic donated $208. Giving $200 were Rebecca and Rachel and their parents, Gary and Jan Short, 8704 E. Sinto; Kathy Olson, Liberty Lake; and an anonymous donor. The Thursday Lunch Bunch, a group of five women who have munched a bunch of lunches over the past several years, gave $155 rather than exchange gifts.

Gifts of $150 came from D.W. Cornwall Farms Inc., Fairfield; Metals Fabrication, Airway Heights; and Margaret Isaak, 3715 N. Cannon, in memory of her husband, Vic, her mother, Elizabeth Scott, her daughter, Ann Elizabeth Fredberg and her sister, Texi Slater.

Employees in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department at Deaconess Medical Center gave $140; Kim and Jeff Sackmann, $134; anonymous, $125. Giving $100 gifts were the Reiters, 4056 S. Helena; Gary and Deborah Veltry, Spokane; Ruth and Bob Jensen, 2808 S. Monroe; J.E. Muckler, 7919 E. Longfellow; Doug and Karen Vail of Vail Construction, 6414 S. Waneta; and Ernest F. Weyen, Washington Trust Financial Center.

Jim and Dee Lorenz, 1809 E. 54th, gave $100 for their grandchildren: Katie and Jimmy Lorenz of Boston, Grace and Nick Lorenz of Spokane, and Allison Grefsrud, Seattle. Dee Lorenz also included a note saying, “the Christmas Fund is one of the special things I love about Spokane - it is like Bloomsday, Hoopfest, the Centennial Trail and Symphony in the Park concerts.”

Other $100 gifts came from parish members of Holy Family Catholic Church at Fairchild Air Force Base with a note saying, “our parish is small, but in these times of need, it is important to do what we can to help”; Carlson Machine Works Inc., 3310 E. Trent; Nancy Lindsay, 2612 S. Denver, in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.; Jim Pugh, Coeur d’Alene; and Duane and Jacqueline Anderson, Coeur d’Alene.

More donations of $100 came from Fred and Mary Bell Backlund, in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.; Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Johnston, 4532 N. Royal Court; Ibex Construction Inc., 8119 N. Regal, and its employees; Sharon, Kimberly and Uncle Joe; Zachary Hunt; employees of Hobson Auto Supply, 1213 W. Railroad; and Central Auto Supply, 111 N. Vista, as a gift to their boss.

The Bosaaen family gave $100 as a “thank you” to those who have helped them during the Broadview Dairy strike. Lucy Forman Gurnea, Chewelah, gave in memory of her stepdaughter, Susan, “who transformed the personal anguish of her short life into a wellspring of compassion for anyone in need. She would not want a family to be hungry or a child to go without a toy on Christmas.”

Other $100 gifts came from Barbara and George Stumph, 9106 N. Bradbury Drive; Ken Quimby, Nine Mile Falls; Ralph E. Hooke, 2116 W. Mission; Tim and Darlene LaBrosse and sons, Ken and Kevin, “in memory of our dear mother, Betty Peterson, who passed away this year. She was a special person who liked to give of herself and do thoughtful things for people all year round.”

Also sending $100 was the Children’s Safety Bureau, Kent, Wash., which provides instruction and materials regarding the safety and welfare of children; Catherine Grott, in memory of Joseph C. Grott; Lindell M. Haggin, 15418 N. Little Spokane Drive; and the owners and staff of International Tours & Travel, 1925 N. Monroe.

Larry and Mary Soehren, gave $100 as a tribute to their daughter, Madison Noel, born Dec. 19, and to Dr. “Mac” McCaffree and staff, and the “wonderful people at the Sacred Heart Birthplace. Our hope is that this gift will make this Christmas as special for others as it is for us.”

Dave and Liz Zinecker, 11107 E. 17th, gave $100, as did Robert and Marilyn Salsbury Jr. and 12 anonymous donors, including one gift made “in honor of the late C.G. Rochon of Anaconda, Mont., who believed in and lived the quality of integrity.”

Gifts of $75 came from William Wallace, 4215 S. Martin; C. Fred and Jere Mansfield “in honor of the Sisters of the Holy Names, who have gifted others with their caring for more than 150 years.” The sisters cared for and comforted the Mansfield family whose son was a victim this year of violence, which left him a paraplegic.

Other $75 donations came from Mary Newbill and family, Fruitland, Wash., in memory of Ned Newbill, John Newbill and Stephen Leibow; R. Wally and Mary Driscoll, 1307 W. Cliffwood Court; Gene Grinal, in memory of Donna Seehorn Harris, “a longtime friend who unfortunately was a smoker”; and the Grant family, including $5 from Kimberly, 8, and $10 from Joshua, 12.

A. Dean and Jayne Seaboldt, 11017 E. Grace, gave $75, as did employees of the IV Therapy Department at Sacred Heart Medical Center in honor of Jan Sanders, nurse manager.

, DataTimes