Landmark boosts charity fund
The Christmas Fund got a boost from a donation of $4,724 from the 200 employees of Landmark Restaurants of Spokane and a matching donation from the company. The donation brings the daily tally to $23,305.72, which bumps the Christmas Fund to $141,561.02.
“Our locally owned company has roughly 200 employees who contribute all year long through voluntary payroll deductions,” wrote Larry Brown and Ken Belisle. “Landmark Restaurants matches this amount and is grateful for this opportunity to participate. Our company values that 100 percent of this money goes directly to creating a merrier Christmas for deserving children and families in the Spokane area.”
St. Charles School eighth-grader Ross Nesbitt is hoping to bump that a little more when he completes his own fund-raising effort.
Nesbitt took a break from restocking the toy room at the Christmas Bureau to explain his plan to raise $100 for the fund.
“At my school we need to raise $100 for a local charity and work for five hours volunteering,” he said. Selling links for paper chains at his mother’s quilt shop in Reardan, he’s raised money $1 at a time. He’s sold 70 links to customers at The Buggy Barn, and another 20 to his grandmother. “Hopefully I’ll sell the rest in time,” he said.
Nesbitt worked this week and plans to work next Wednesday when the bureau is open until 6:30 p.m. for the working poor. Mostly, he said, he moves boxes. And he has checked out the array of toys to see what he might want on his own Christmas list. He likes the footballs with all of the NFL team logos, although he aspires to play for the NBA. “I’m going to Gonzaga Prep and then hopefully I’ll get a basketball scholarship to a school like Gonzaga and then try to get to the NBA,” he said.
Between now and Christmas, though, he says he will be busy with school, thinking about all of his family coming for Christmas and moving toys at the Christmas Bureau. “I like it here,” he said. “Everyone seems so happy to be here.”
There continues to be a steady lineup of needy families at the bureau. Thursday, the bureau issued 727 food vouchers, totaling $21,780. In addition, 1,197 adults were served and 1,244 children received toys for Christmas.
The bureau is open today from 10 a.m. to 2:30, and again on Monday at 10 a.m. for the second week. The fund, however, will continue to welcome donations of all amounts until Dec. 30. The following are donations and the donors; a second article is on Page B2:
The Spokesman-Review Features Department donated the proceeds of its sale of items sent to the newspaper for review and other “freebies,” pushing the fund up $2,209.75.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $1,500.
Bailey and Benson, on Rockwood Boulevard, sent $1,000 and a note: “All our love and good wishes for joy and peace this holiday season.” An anonymous donor, of Mead, also gave $1,000.
Nancy Evans and Gregory MacDonald, of Spokane, donated $750.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, donated $600.
Michael and Maureen Basinger, of Spokane, gave $500, as did Carol and Gerald Santantonio, of Spokane, and an anonymous donor, of Spokane.
Dick and Trudy Raymond, of Spokane, donated $400 in memory of their parents, Donald MacLeod Thomson, Eva Marie Raymond, Thomas A. Raymond, and in honor of Winnie Thomson.
Doug, DJ and Roo Brajcich, of Spokane, donated $250 in memory of Scott, “who we miss dearly.” Fay and Carmel Johnstone, of Spokane Valley, gave $250. Gail and Roberta Keeling, of Otis Orchards, Wash., sent $250 in honor of their grandsons, Taylor Merkley and Kolby Keeling.
Ruth and Walt Cummings, of Spokane, gave $350.
Jim and Bev Johnson, of Spokane, donated $250, as did Stan and Kathryn Ross, of Spokane, J&J Drilling, Inc., and Jerry Johnson, of Greenacres, Wash.; and Mac and Judy Hudson, of Spokane.
An anonymous donor, of Chattaroy, gave $201.
Mary Ann Cooley, of Cheney, donated $200, “in memory of my husband, John Cooley, who was killed in a helicopter crash in August. He was a very generous person and I know he would want to help people make their children’s Christmas happier.”
Harry and Donna Fuhs, of Spokane, also donated $200, as did Randy and Kathleen Maurer, Janet and Keith Walker, Diane and Ronald Kaufman, Ruth Smith, and an anonymous donor, all of Spokane.
Marvin and Shirley Ann Walters, of Spokane, sent $200, as did Billie and Donald Moore, Steve and Debra Lindberg, and Carol and Bill Barber, all of Spokane.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $200 in memory of Jack. Sydney Strothman and kids donated $200 in memory of Janet Conklin.
Tim and Ann Riordon, of Veradale, gave $200 in memory of their friend, Gretchen Foster.
The employees of Cascade Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, of Spokane, donated $150 in honor of Dr. Terrance Hauck, and $150 in honor of Dr. John Ames, in lieu of Christmas gifts.
Dick and Beverly Olson, of Spokane Valley, donated $150, in honor of their children. Two anonymous donors, both of Spokane, each donated $150.
Les Randall, of Spokane, sent $150 in honor of his two sons, Gary and Clay Randall. “They pick up their dad once every week and take him down to Huckleberry’s Market at 7 a.m. and buy him a cup of coffee, sometimes two, and bring him home an hour later,” Randall wrote. “No one, other than their 97-year-old dad, can possibly know how much their visits are appreciated. Their mother Clara, who passed away several years ago, did a great job of raising them. She deserves credit for a good share of our contribution.”