Christmas Fund 1996 Gifts Of $2,000 And $20 Inspiring

This is a story of contrasts, of people of differing means working toward a single solution:

Jay B. Penick, president and CEO of Farm Credit Services, 601 W. First, donated $2,000 to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund on behalf of the company’s 120 Spokane-based employees.

Penick’s letter said, “We appreciate what you are doing to help make the community in which we all live and work a better place.”

The other side of this coin is from a woman who anonymously donated $20. She wrote, “I know what it’s like to be cold, but not hungry. When I was growing up there was a year, when I was in about the third grade, that we almost did not have a Christmas.

“Money was tight with nine family members. The welfare office volunteers brought out gifts.

“This time of year is always hard for me, being low-income myself. I decided that if there was any extra (money), I would give. I want my two children to learn that they have more than other people. We donate food throughout the year and (to) Project Share.

“I pray that you will meet your goal. May God bless everyone this year.

“Love, Anonymous.”

Their gifts helped bring Saturday’s total to $8,708.80, for a year-to-date sum of $337,680.94.

These two contributions represent the best of Spokane: A corporation many might dismiss as merely a beautiful modern building of steel and glass, a place of business. But, in actuality, it is a place with people who have hearts. Who care.

The other is a woman who struggles to make ends meet, but gives of the little she has to help those who don’t even have that much. She wants her children to learn the love of sharing.

It’s gratifying for the Christmas Fund to gather up the opposite ends of this spectrum and join them together so that a circle is formed.

The Christmas Fund succeeds only because of the variety of contributors. Businesses couldn’t - and shouldn’t - shoulder all the responsibility by simply writing out checks for a charity, no matter how deserving it is.

Residents could not possibly raise nearly half a million dollars to help our neighbors in distress enjoy the holidays. And, they shouldn’t be expected to bear the brunt of what is a community service.

It takes both. And both have been so willing the past 50 years to support this tradition of giving children what every child deserves, regardless of their parents’ income.

Every child should be able to believe in Santa Claus. Every child should go to bed on Christmas Eve too excited to sleep in anticipation of the next day. Remember how giddy that made you feel? The memory makes you smile, doesn’t it?

It’s you, businesses and citizens of the Inland Northwest, who allow the magic of Christmas to reign another year. For 50 years you have done that. And now, it will be done for the 51st year. If the goal does not exactly reach $400,000, then close enough. The 1996 drive will be a success in more ways than monetarily.

Other Saturday gifts include:

Donations of $200 came from Jim and Julie Psomas, Liberty Lake; James and Ann Slack, 6110 S. Helena; and Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, Spokane.

Gay Barranco - mom, grandma, great-grandma - gave $200 in honor of Vicki, Pam, Jack, Steve, Robert, Vinnie, Robbie, Ann, Kirsten, Gina, Lorraine, Steven, Bryan, Kevin, Adriana, Juliana, Alicia, Maria, Jared, Braden, Domonic and Guadalupe.

This loving woman in Mead wondered what in the world she could give all her grandchildren and their parents, and then “realized they don’t need anything. Thank God they are all healthy, happy and doing well in their lives. I know there are so many people who are less fortunate. …”

To her children and grandchildren, she wrote: “I thought this would be a wonderful way to thank God for what we have and learn to help others less fortunate. I’m very, very proud of you all!”

The Ramona Rebekah Lodge 238, gave $200, as did St. Andrew’s Guild of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2404 N. Howard, in keeping with its mission to help not only the youth of their church, but all young people. Ed and Joyce Ranniger, 2319 E. Casper, gave $200 “in memory of my parents and Stokke and Marlene”; there were three anonymous donations of $200.

Mr. and Mrs. F.E. Gonder, 11021 E. 33rd, and the Hawkins family, 424 E. 21st, each gave $150; donations of $135 came from D.N. Fitzgerald, 12903 E. 26th, and an anonymous donor.

Bob and Lavon Montelius, 11218 N. Stevens, contributed $100 in memory of their grandson, Stuart Rands, who would have been 22 on Dec. 1, had he not been killed in a bicycle-car accident as a youngster.

Other gifts of $100 came from the Jones family of Newman Lake in memory of Marybell Clark; Neil Ziegler of Ziggy’s, 4220 N. Market; Dorean Kelsey, 3826 S. Lamont; Twyman Safety, Ritzville; Keith and Janet Walker, 8710 N. Kelly; Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Schultz, Harrington; Patrick and Cheryl Pritchard, 6128 N. Post, “in memory of Gertrude Pritchard.”

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Larson, 5303 N. Argonne, gave $100, along with Bob and Dorothy Skindlov, 2304 E. Cedarwood, “with warmest thanks to The Spokesman-Review for again sponsoring the Christmas Fund”; Mike and Christine Hinnen, 827 E. Overbluff; the Kerwin family, 4326 S. Napa; R.S. Innes, 2504 S. Wall; James and Tamara Crabtree, 5315 W. Newell Court.

The Spokane Chapter of the American Women’s Society of Certified Public Accountants, 10011 E. Montgomery, donated $100, as did eight anonymous donors, one given in memory of her brother.

The Valley Grandmothers’ Club donated $89; gifts of $75 came from the Stanley family of Medical Lake; William and Jeanne Gibson, Four Lakes; and an anonymous donor; the Valley Ladies’ Wednesday Bridge Group, gave $54.

Gifts of $50 came from the Jack Arkills family, 3322 E. Tara; along with Carol Benner, 1318 N. McDonald; Bill Davies, 1235 W. Bellwood Drive; Brian and Mary Hirschkorn, 5902 W. TomTom Court; Thomas Russell, 401 E. Magnesium; Drew and Mary Bodker, 2011 S. Julia; the Richard Wands, 1115 E. 16th, who cheered, “You’ll make the goal - you always do.”

Rick Robinson, 5042 N. Greenwood, gave $50, along with Larry Schiffner, 3117 W. Princeton; and five anonymous donors, one given “in remembrance of a caring friend, Dante B. Tye,” and another “in loving memory of Joseph S. Barrett.”

June K. Carroll, 230 E. Nordin, contributed $35. Gifts of $30 were made by Dan Sherwood, 1702 N. Zappone Place, “on behalf of the men and women of the 96 ARS”; Walt and Betty Knowles, Liberty Lake; and two anonymous donors.

Mitch Leppo, 15612 Meadowglen Court, gave $26; giving $25 were Conrad and Barbara Zachary, 12624 E. 25th; Dan and Patricia Orlich, Pullman; Rose Bartoletta Du Bois, 5403 N. Howard; Norma Rosenberger, 3307 N. Sipple; Ron and Jean Robb, 7311 E. 11th, who wrote, “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our blessings with those in our community.”

Clifford Balcom, 8804 N. Forker, gave $25, as did Ed and Vi Sweet, 624 W. Holmberg Lane, “because we want to help those in need”; Judith Rousseau, Liberty Lake; and two anonymous donors.

Gifts of $20 came from the Topaz Sewing Club in Spokane; Ben and Betty Cooper, 3316 N. Sipple; Margaret Collins, 511 S. Park, “in memory of George Mansfield who passed away Dec. 14,” and one anonymous donor.

Charles Mosgar, 4205 W. Wellesley, contributed $15, along with Kairos House of Prayer, 1714 W. Stearns, in memory of Larry Rose, and two anonymous donors.

Gifts of $10 came from Don and Pat Lee, 1923 E. Sinto, “in memory of my recently deceased aunt, Gladys Minden”; Mrs. Ernest Shearer, 10223 N. Morrison; and an anonymous donor who gave “in memory of our beloved granddaughter, Michelle, who died in 1988.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Christmas Fund Information