Bureau enjoys success – so far
The Christmas Bureau has closed for the weekend, and so far the holiday charity has been a success, according to bureau co-chair Bruce Butler.
“It’s gone very smoothly,” he said. He credits the success to changes made in checking the identification of recipients. “We also have had not a single problem with the computer system this year.”
On Friday alone, the bureau distributed food vouchers for holiday dinner to 870 families, worth $26,540, and gave away toys for 1,560 children.
Now the Christmas Fund needs to hold up its end of this charity. The goal this year is $485,000, which is the amount needed to pay for the makings of Christmas distributed at the bureau. Donations of $5,885.05 brought the Christmas Fund to $112,738.80. Donations of all amounts are welcome.
The bureau was busy all day Friday. “When I got here this morning, the first family in line said they had been waiting since 6:30,” said Butler. He let the people in line into the building at the fairgrounds so they could stay warm. “The second family in line is here as a result of Hurricane Katrina. A family of five, with three kids.”
The truckload of toys due in on Friday will now be unloaded on Monday. But there’s no shortage of toys. From paint-by-number horse pictures to light-up xylopianos, there are toys for every age group and interest. The Hoo Hoo Express woodworking club dropped off another box full of wooden dump trucks. The group of hobbyists crafted hundreds of toy trucks for the children who wait in the child care area at the bureau; students at St. Charles School helped assemble the trucks.
The bureau will reopen Monday at 10 a.m.
Following are the donors and their donations:
An anonymous donor from Spokane gave $2,000.
An anonymous donor from Medical Lake gave $500.
Steven and Lorrie McNutt of Spokane donated $250, as did William and Georgette Savitz, also of Spokane. The Roy and Leona Nelson Foundation of Spokane sent in $250.
Robert and Elaine Fulton of Spokane donated $200, as did Maryellen and Earl Adolphson, also of Spokane. Bev Massie of Spokane donated $200 in memory of her husband, Alan, adding, “It wouldn’t be Christmas if we couldn’t help others less fortunate than we.”
Elaine and Jim Peplinski of Spokane Valley donated $200 “in memory of big brother Wayne.”
An anonymous donor from Spokane sent $200 in memory of Jack, “who believed in the meaning of Christmas.”
Jim and Peggy Hasstedt of Spokane sent $150, as did Julie and Virgil Emery, also of Spokane.
Bob and Hazel Johnston of Spokane donated $100, as did Denise Mutschler of Cheney, Jim Bellotty of Airway Heights, Deby and Donald Teeguarden of Addy, Wash. and Gunhild Clegg of Spokane.
Jean Rose of Nine Mile Falls gave $100 in memory of Jim Rose.
Anita Millsap of Spokane donated $100 in memory of her husband and daughter.
Paul, Melanie, Danette and Meghan Delaney of Spokane sent $100 in memory of Herb and Mary Jeanette Cunz, “who always helped those in need at Christmas.”
Frank and Judy Nearing of Spokane gave $100 in memory of their mothers, Elizabeth Baker and Margarette Arnold.
The Rockford Women’s Club of Rockford, Wash., donated $75.
Cindy Sievert of Chattaroy gave $50, as did Lane Klees of Spokane, Verda Coryell of Spokane Valley, and Best Software Allied Systems, LLC, of Spokane.
Marie Holliday of Spokane gave $25 in memory of her husband, Uhel E. Holliday Jr. Elizabeth Russell of Spokane donated $25 in memory of her mother, Joy White, and all other caring nurses. Maxine Reitmeier of Spokane gave $25, as did an anonymous donor from Spokane.
Ais, Inc., Express Personnel Services of Spokane, sent $20.05.
Alfred and L.C. Ungaro of Spokane donated $20, as did Fr. George Morris, S.J., of Spokane.