Charity helps some 10,000 area families

The number of poor families going to the Christmas Bureau for the fixings of Christmas is running apace with last year, which means by the time the bureau closes Wednesday night, nearly 10,000 families will have a brighter Christmas thanks to a generous community.

It is, indeed, generous donations to the Christmas Fund that make this community gift to the needy possible. MMI, of Spokane, gave the fund a big bump with a donation of $10,000, which brought Monday’s tally to $16,945 and the fund to $292,992.75.

“The invaluable social services the fund provides our community could easily be overlooked were it not for the visibility afforded by the S-R participation and support,” wrote Charlie and Kathy Watson, owners of MMI. “The S-R and all the contributors to the Christmas Fund make a great team and Spokane is the big winner.”

MMI, which is locally owned, manufactures and distributes small electronic products designed for the promotional products industry and manufactures products for original equipment applications worldwide, according to the Watsons.

More donations are needed, of course, if the fund is to reach its goal of $485,000, the amount needed to pay the bills for this community effort. Donations of all amounts are welcomed.

Monday, the Christmas Bureau distributed food vouchers worth $16,260 to 582 families and gave toys to 796 children.

Following are the other donors to the daily tally, and their donations:

Dave and Dawn Voelker, of Spokane, donated $150.

Zane Barnwell, of Spokane, donated $100 in honor of Aunt Debbie and Uncle Jim.

The Schultz family, of Cheney, donated $100, as did Olwen and John Bradley, of Spokane; Dave and Laurie Ince, of Post Falls; Lowell and Shirley Mouser, Otis Orchards; Barbara and James Groves, of Spokane; and Charlotte and Peter Yocoms, of Cheney.

Paul and Teddy Conger, of Coeur d’Alene, gave $100 in memory of Betty Mortensen.

Robert and Marian Cummings, of Spokane, donated $100, as did Merle and Dolores Gilmore, of Spokane Valley; Tom and Mary Lacy, John Anderson, and Fae Bowers, all of Spokane; and the Laws family, of Cheney.

Sharon Hunter, of Spokane, sent $60 and a note: “Because we are so blessed in our family, this gift is to honor my grandchildren, Katie, Joshua, Chelsey and Jacob. My prayer is that in a small way, it’ll help to bless someone else.”

Betty and Russell Hite, of Spokane, donated $50, as did Ernst and Rita Pickel, Nancy Mac Kerrow, Joyce Jordan, G.P. Proctor, and Dorothy Warren, Sue Mushlitz, all of Spokane; George and Ruth Swan, of Spokane Valley; Clevo Garcia, of Cheney; Enrique Polle, of Pullman, and two anonymous donors, both of Spokane.

Janice Holcomb and Melissa Priester, of Mead, gave $50 in memory of their friend Jeanie Beery, who lost her battle with cancer in July. “She had the most giving heart and was the epitome of a true volunteer,” they wrote.

Helen Casper, of Spokane, gave $50 in memory of Andy Casper. Margaret Pansie, of Spokane, donated $50 in memory of her husband, Dick Pansie. Harriet Watkins, of Spokane, sent $50 in memory of her husband, Zeke, and her son, Mike. The Gilliam family, of Spokane, sent $50 in memory of Jay Gilliam.

Robert and Cecile LaFountain, of Spokane, donated $40, as did an anonymous donor, also of Spokane.

William La Point, of Spokane, gave $35.

Jim Swinney, of Spokane, donated $25, as did Mr. and Mrs. Neil Maxwell, also of Spokane.