Gifts Help ‘The Poor And Vulnerable’ Lady Of Fatima Donation Shows Love Of Community
Christmas is a time for remembering, not only those we love, but those who need our love “the poor and vulnerable members of our community.”
That was the apt description of Joan Gagliardi of Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church, 1517 E. 33rd, whose social ministries committee donated $100.
Christmas is also a time to remember our roots and return some of the goodness we’ve received, as Paul Fitzpatrick wrote with a $500 contribution from Fitzpatrick & Culbertson, Attorneys and Counselors, 1124 W. Riverside:
“Spokane has provided my firm with the opportunity to support myself and my staff,” he wrote. “It has been and continues to be a great place to live and work. Part of being a community is giving back to it when your are able - personally and financially.
“On behalf of myself, my staff, and our clients, we hope this will benefit members of the community who have not been as fortunate.”
Those two contributions helped create Saturday’s total of $8,126, for a total so far of $45,355.13.
To put that amount in perspective, remember the Christmas Fund goal this year is $425,000. That means another $379,645 must be raised in the remaining 18 days.
Oh, my goodness - 18 days to raise $379,645! That’s $21,091 a day.
For 51 years, The Spokesman-Review has helped its neighbors in need enjoy a happier holiday than they would if there were no such thing as the Christmas Fund.
People who struggle with more “out-go” than “in-come” need a bit of respite at Christmas.
Volunteers at the Christmas Bureau, at the former J.C. Penney building at U-City, will register the thousands of families seeking help. The registrants will provide proof of their residence (with rent receipts or power bills) and family size (medical coupons).
After the information has been entered, a food voucher will be given to each client, the amount depending upon the family’s size. Vouchers vary from $20 for a family of one, to $50 for a family of seven or more.
Parents are then shown by groups into a room filled with first-rate toys and games suitable for children from infants to teenagers. The parents select whatever they think their children would like.
The toys are replenished with each new group, so the variety remains constant, providing the same opportunity to those at the end of the line as to those at the beginning.
Because the toys are bought in bulk at wholesale prices all year long, whenever the sales are best, the brand-name toys are on a par with those other children will find under their trees.
Quality of the toys was important to the late Ken Trent, who managed the Christmas Bureau for a couple of decades - and the legacy has been passed on to Mike Ryan of Catholic Charities, who is heading up the bureau this year.
That’s one of the beauties of the Christmas Fund. All the contributions are pooled, increasing the buying power beyond what individual gifts could buy.
Another beauty is that all the money - every cent - is given to the nonprofit agencies of Volunteers of America and Catholic Charities, which operate the bureau with the Salvation Army. Nothing is withheld for overhead expenses - because there are none. Volunteers run the bureau in a donated building.
If you would like to join in this wonderful holiday gift to the community, please send a check to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund, Fourth Floor Newsroom, 999 W. Riverside, P.O. Box 516, Spokane WA 99210. Or, leave it with the guard in the lobby of the Review Tower, or, if you like, deliver it to the newsroom on the fourth floor.
Others who helped with Saturday’s total were:
An anonymous donor who contributed the handsome amount of $2,000; Curt Beyersdorf, Lou Conyard and Tom Lacy gave $1,500 on Blue Goose International; Max Kuney Co., 120 N. Ralph, gave $1,000.
As he’s done for several years, Lyal Williamson, 9723 E. Shannon, remembered his wife, Laura, with a $1,000 gift and this note: “She helped others in need every day of the year and had love for you folks at Christmas time for what you do for others.”
Terry and Kathryn Deno, 8123 N. Valerie, gave $250; Marilyn and Robert Mitchel, 3323 S. Manito Blvd., gave $200, as did James and Kimberly Elias, 1216 N. Locust Road.
Gifts of $100 came from Mrs. N.G. Johanson, 633 N. Madelia, who wrote: “Another year, another wish for a successful fund drive”; Glen and Lorraine Lanterman, Otis Orchards; Doug Herrman, who included “A big thank you … to all the volunteers who make the Christmas Fund a reality. I wish you success in reaching your goal. Merry Christmas to all.”
E. and I. Hirschel, 11401 E. Fourth, gave $100, as did Gregg Kennedy, 1422 N. Mamer Road; H. Bell, 2940 W. Circle Place; Edith Replogle, Deer Park; Frank Armstrong, 2614 E. 40th; an anonymous donor and Bobbie and Dave Freeman, 841 Victorian Drive, who wants “to help a needy family this Christmas. We’re praying you will meet your goal.”
Thanks, we need all the help we can get.
Giving $50 were Kathryn Weber, 2232 S. Forest Estates Drive, “to help with a wonderful community cause”; Jane Skindlov, 1917 E. 40th; Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Case, 421 E. 19th, wrote in response to a column last week: “We are glad to help your loaf of Christmas ‘bread’ to rise.” An anonymous gift of $50 was received.
Brent and Doni Guyer, 516 E. Eastview, gave $46, and wrote: “We told our children, ages 4 to 14, that we would match (their Christmas Fund contributions) dollar-for-dollar. We are so blessed in our lives. It is a joy to share. God bless.”
Shelley Bond, 2717 W. Courtland, gave $25; as did the Garden Springs Happy Hour Club; Betty Thompson, 7129 N. Drumheller; Mike and Kathy Suenkel; and Eugene Kelly, 14918 N. Cincinnati. An anonymous donor gave $5.
, DataTimes