Christmas Fund 1997 Even The Smallest Gift Captures Spirit Of Holiday Season

Want to know how to get the Christmas spirit?

An anonymous donor to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund has just the ticket:

“The biggest thrill of all is giving a gift to someone who could never afford to buy one. Their absolute appreciation and delight shines in their eyes. And their excitement spawns my excitement.

“Can you imagine what Bill Gates’ wife buys for him? Someone who has everything! Where’s the thrill and excitement? Poor Bill.

“I hope this little ($25) check will cause a smile.

“Merry Christmas to everyone in Spokane. Ho, Ho, Ho.”

Contributions of $75 to Wednesday’s total came from Mr. and Mrs. John Mertens, 14111 E. Sprague; Lois Banta, Mead; and Betty Bain, 2723 W. Wabash. There was an anonymous gift of $60.

Donations of $50 came from Tom and Sue Eastman, 2321 S. Davis Court, “on behalf of our beloved grandchildren, Laura, Jeffrey and Emilie”; Ronald Doyen, 4227 S. Hatch; Neil Neihart, 507 W. Ivanhoe; Wilda Cooper, 3423 E. Marietta; E. Hickman, Colfax; Ladell Steed, 514 W. 19th.

Albert and June Gaultney, Chewelah, gave $50 with this note: “Just a couple drops for the bucket. However, if you get enough drops, it will fill the bucket.”

That’s absolutely right!

Sheri Barnard, 1703 E. Pinecrest Road, our city’s former mayor, gave $50. So did Seema and Socks (the Santa kittens) and Gretchen (the Santa dog), who live with Terry, Stace, Trevor, Kelsey and a baby expected in May.

Other $50 gifts came from Bob and Elaine Pachman, 3231 W. Boone; Mr. and Mrs. Byron Floch, 8522 N. Stevens Drive; Susan and Kenneth Pelton, 2808 W. Cleveland, “in loving memory of Grandma Hannah”; Nota Dwinnell, 1621 Pinehill Road; Fred and Gayle Fox, 729 S. Flint Road; and the Cooley family from Cheney.

Bette Kolbet, 5317 N. Hawthorne, also gave $50, as did Karen Clarke, 3625 E. 51st; Walter and Marian Nelson, 9615 N. Wickiup Court; the Northwest Treasure Hunters Club; D.L. Allen, 3924 E. Fifth; and Barbara and George Stumph, 9106 N. Bradbury, who wrote: “We contribute with much gratitude for this year’s blessings.”

Other $50 contributions came from Mr. and Mrs. Lester Reuss, 2327 W. Gordon; W.C. Fisher, 4403 W. Winston Court; Jerald Gerson, 6219 S. Martin; and five anonymous donors, including one who wrote: “Thank you so much. May you all have a blessed Christmas.”

Gifts of $40 came from Helena Finch, Spokane; Cliff, Cheryl, Jill and Wendy Mortenson, and Debbie and Jamie Vaughn, “In memory of Bud Sr. and Lillian Moylan, and Bud Moylan Jr., who are always in our hearts.”

Laura and Bill Nestoss, Greenacres, gave $35 in the names of their grandchildren, “who are fortunate to always have a great Christmas: Brian, Matthew, Kaitlin, Jenni, Andrea, Joshua and Joey.”

An anonymous donor gave $32.74, and another gave $32.10. Gifts of $30 came from Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Miller, 9405 N. Farmdale; Richard and Judith Loomis, Spokane; Jolee and Greg Benoit, 420 W. 22nd; and an anonymous donor.

Gloria Davis sent $25 with: “I reserve an amount from my grandchildren each year to give to this wonderful cause. Given on behalf of Jacra, Kavan and Kara.”

Other $25 gifts came from Mr. and Mrs. R. Towne, 1010 S. Rockwood Blvd.; Adeline Thompson, 1010 S. Rockwood Blvd., as “my way to say ‘Thank you’ to all the people who make Spokane such a grand place to live.”

The Pinch Kids, 919 W. Glass, sent $25 with this note: “We saved our allowance so some kids will have a Christmas”; Buck and Cindy Koerper, Mead, gave $25 as did Paul Stec, 1418 W. Parkwood Court, as a memorial to his wife, Patricia A. Stec.

Other contribution of $25 came from Ed and Pauline Carlson, 322 E. Cozza Drive; Mike and Jodi Simpson; Marjorie and Hal Norrie, 2516 W. Dell Drive; Ken and Ethel Watkins, 5115 N. Stevens, to “help to make someone a Merry Christmas.”

Shannon and Thomas Frasher, 6120 W. Charlton Circle, gave $25, as did Shirley Schoenleber, 12311 E. Skyview; the Zion Lutheran Church Women; Max and Betty Saxton, 6712 N. Washington; Shannon Hill and Belva Pierson, 6504 N. Calispel, in memory of Janna; Gladys Peterson, 1618 E. Glass.

Sisters Thelma Ostby and Gladys Gossett sent $25 to “put a smile on some needy children’s faces - just as it did when the Riverside High School Girls Soccer Team of Chattaroy won the State Championship this fall.”

Marion Connelly, 2311 W. 16th, sent $25, as did Joyce Sutton, 2602 W. Mallon, who gave “in memory of my mother, Gladys Minden,” who died Dec. 12, 1996; R.F. and Lois Goehri, 3704 N. Ely Road; and three anonymous donors.

Beatrice Sorenson, 4024 N. Lincoln, gave $20, as did Phyllis Kaczar, 609 N. Vercler Road, in memory of her husband; James and Jean Supinger, Medical Lake; Donald and Violetta Ward, 722 N. Long, in memory of Anton Dauenhauer; Rita Metler, Fairchild Air Force Base; and Estelle Bailey, Opportunity, “in honor of my uncle, 92-yearold Ralph Hanson.”

Marilyn Bauer, 5403 W. Princeton, also sent $20, rather than buy a Christmas tree. “In the spirit of Christmas,” she wrote, “I’d prefer that children have gifts at the wonderful season, or that these funds be used towards a family’s holiday dinner.”

There was one anonymous gift of $20.

The children of Brad and Carol Smith continued their four-year tradition of giving to the Christmas Fund: B.J. and CoJo, 5 and 4 years old, emptied their Barney and Thomas the Train banks for their contribution. Their combined gift of $16.65 included $2 from Taylor, 2 months old.

Gary and Iva Borden, 15720 Longfellow, gave $15, as did a disabled anonymous donor in memory of his mother and because he feels those applying for Christmas help are “more desperate” than he is. “To be helping people is a good feeling,” he wrote. “To see children’s faces light up is a warm feeling.”

Gifts of $10 came from Paula Hoff, 5615 W. Nadine Court; Jerrold Shea, 1822 S. Fawn Drive; Hettie Hamilton, 1312 E. 15th; and three anonymous donors, including one who wrote, “If everyone within your readership area would dig a little deeper to find the true meaning of Christmas, your fund will reach its goal. Please, kind folks, it will warm your heart to give. Even a little.”

Deonne Hill, 4408 S. Cook, gave $5, as did an anonymous donor.

, DataTimes