Christmas Fund 1997 Donations Made With Love Ann Geraghty, County Elves Hold Bake Sale For Christmas Fund
There’s a biblical reference about giving of your talents.
Ann Geraghty does exactly that.
Since last January, Geraghty has been making crafts to sell with the intention of donating the earnings from her talent to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund.
She gave $772.25 - 100 percent of her sales.
But she didn’t stop there.
For the second year, Geraghty headed a crafts and bake sale at the Spokane County Courthouse, where she works in the financial services department. County employees not only made and baked items in support of the Christmas Fund, but scores more also bought the items, making everyone a contributor.
All told, a total of $940.45 came from the talents of county employees. (A list of those who helped make the sale a success is at the end of this story.)
Their contribution helped create Monday’s total of $4,405.45.
At this early date for the fund, $12,250.13 has been raised.
Heartwarming. Hopeful.
A goal of $425,000 has been set to help the expected thousands of low-income families enjoy a happier holiday. And, as it’s been said before, there’s not much time before Christmas arrives. Translation: There’s not much time to raise that much money.
Please remember every bit of your gift is used to buy toys for children and food vouchers to help provide Christmas groceries for our poor neighbors.
Nothing is withheld for expenses.
The newspaper only collects the money. It’s all given to Volunteers of America and Catholic Charities, whose officials work with those from the Salvation Army to operate the Christmas Bureau, where the toys and vouchers are distributed. The bureau opens Dec. 10 at the former Penney’s store in U-City.
Others helping create Sunday’s total are:
Employees of C&A, Cohig & Associates, Inc., Investments, 534 E. Trent, who gave $1,000; Linda Hull, Colbert, donated $500; Helen Day, treasurer of South Side Newcomers, wrote with the group’s $200 check: “We have donated to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund for some time and want to be one of the first with our donation this year.”
Love those early birds.
Jack and Edna Redinger, 12402 N. Division, gave $200 “to help Spokane children at Christmas time.” Victor Cole, 2406 W. Decatur, gave $150; Kay and Lloyd Avery, 215 W. Sumner, gave $125.
Donating $100 were James and Norine Kent, 2826 W. Lyons; and members of the Maverick Sam Chapter of the International Good Sam Recreational Vehicle Club, with a note from Ron Hilfiker, president: “We know your Christmas Fund will distribute the money to make Christmas a little brighter for the needy.”
Charlotte Jones, 326 W. Glass, gave $100, as did members of the Selkirk Ski Club, now in its sixth decade; and Ray and Ann Sampson, 304 W. Spruce Court, who contributed once again, hoping it “will make many people happy.” There were two anonymous gifts of $100.
Ron and Carolyn Aubrey, 1512 E. Crown, gave $50 in gratefulness for their grandchildren, Jared and Carlee, with a challenge to beauty salon owners to meet or beat their donation.
Others giving $50 were Don and Carolyn Van Leuven, 5115 S. Pittsburg; J. and D. Primmer, 7515 S. Riverway, who wondered why everyone in the Inland Northwest doesn’t contribute; and three who requested anonymity.
Jacqueline Eide, Odessa, gave $40; there was an anonymous gift of $35.
Giving $25 was Lucille Gallion, 2304 N. Upriver Court, who wrote: “Thank God for The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund where what little I can give will help someone who needs it more than I do.”
Other gifts of $25 came from Lloyd and Georgiana Backenstoe, Post Falls; Vicki Dunn, 1524 E. Crown; K. Slinkard, 1100 N. Superior; and Victor Buksbazen, 6417 N. Cincinnati.
Those contributing $20 were Faye Steckling, 1823 W. Northridge Court; the Fredrick Jones family, 4112 N. Oak; and an anonymous donor.
Georgia Cassell, Airway Heights, gave $10, as did Mabel Mccosh, 1600 W. Pacific; and a Christmas Fund admirer who wrote: “Merry Christmas and thanks a million to all the volunteers that help make so many families blessed.”
Those wonderful, generous county employees are: Julie and Don McDowell, Clyde and Pat Carpenter, Lanaya Hazeltine, Vicky Griffith; Doris Norris, Wanda Clark, Kriss Sjothun, Sue Taylor, Steve and Carl Nelson, Sherry and Kathy Queen, Kay Obenlund, Amie Tilger, Heidi Works, Downs Paul, Shirley Spurgeon, Rose Faust, Charlene Cooney, Ray Geraghty, Mary McGary, Marlene Sanderson, Pam Heeter, Ben Duncan and the Human Resources staff.
And, wrote Ann Geraghty who organized the event: “None of this would have been possible without the support of my elected official William E. Donahue, my accounting manager Ron Kirkwood and my supervisor Phil Scrima.”
, DataTimes