Garco Construction helps build fund with $25,000

Volunteers get a breather today before the Christmas Bureau reopens Monday for the last week of operation at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.

While bureau organizers prepared for record numbers of poor families coming Saturday for help with their Christmas, the crowds that overwhelmed the bureau a week ago did not materialize.

“The people came consistently all day, but they were never lined up out the door like last Saturday,” said volunteer bureau director Carol Speltz. “It was a normal day.”

Volunteers on Saturday gave food vouchers totaling $21,195 to 708 needy families, and toys for 1,189 children.

While the bureau is closed today, the Christmas Fund can’t afford a break, despite receiving the biggest donation yet this year – a $25,000 check from Garco Construction and its employees.

“We at Garco Construction have recognized our blessings and would like to pass on a contribution of $25,000 to the Christmas Fund to assist the less fortunate in our community,” wrote Garco Construction President James T. Welsh.

“As in past years, we have also given our employees the opportunity to contribute to both the Christmas Fund and to other charitable organizations around the area. We are grateful that we are in a position to help others that are not as fortunate at this special time of year. From all of us at Garco, we would like to wish everyone a safe holiday season and a happy New Year,” Welsh continued.

With the Garco donation, the daily tally reached $30,145, which swelled the Christmas Fund to $281,318, still well short of the goal of $485,000.

After seven days of operation, bureau directors say $204,035 worth of grocery store vouchers have been given to 6,921 poor families, and Christmas toys have been given to 11,789 children.

The volunteers in charge of the toy inventory said they have about 5,650 toys remaining from the more than 16,000 purchased. While the number of toys may supply the need this week, the inventory runs heavily toward baby and toddler toys and it’s thin in gifts for teen boys.

“We will have to go shopping on Monday,” said Judy Thies, one of the two volunteer toy buyers. “We have lots of trucks, dolls and games left, but almost no choice for older boys.”

“The trick this week is deciding how much to buy,” said Judy Kortlever, the other toy buyer. “We don’t want to overbuy and have 500 toys left over. We may go a couple of times this week to fill in some of the holes in the inventory.”

“What surprised us this week is how many people came into the toy room asking for trains,” said Thies. “We didn’t get any trains because no one had ever asked for them before. That will have to be on next year’s list.”

The bureau reopens at 10 a.m. Monday.

Following are the additional donations and their donors:

The owners and employees of Seven2, of Spokane, donated $2,380. “We would like to thank our local community for supporting us throughout the year. This donation is the very least we can do,” wrote Nick, Tyler and all the Seven2 employees.

Fred and Norrine Potts Jr., of Spokane, sent $500.

Smitty and Sandy Myers, of Spokane, donated $400, as did an anonymous donor, also of Spokane. Another anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $300 and a note: “We, who have so much, are thankful there is a way to help others where we know the funds actually are going where we intended.”

James Walesby, of Wilbur, Wash., donated $100, as did William and Beverly Honeycutt, of Spokane Valley; Richard Ahlquist Jr., Robert Keith and Eva Akers, Donn and Linda Pattinson, and an anonymous donor, all of Spokane. Helen, of Spokane, donated $100 in memory of her husband, Bob.

Edward and Susan Leach, of Coeur d’Alene, donated $50, as did Douglas and Bertha Mary Jayne, Gary and Linda Williamson, Kate and Jim Jones, and two anonymous donors, all of Spokane; and an anonymous donor, of Newman Lake.

Francis and Agnes Gonder, of Spokane Valley, donated $30, as did an anonymous donor, of Spokane.

Stephen and Lindsey Johnstone, of Elk, Wash., gave $25, as did an anonymous donor, of Mead. Mary Ann Buettner, of Spokane, donated $25 in memory of her mother, Alice Castle. Chet and JoAnn Allison, of Spokane, donated $25 that was previously reported as part of a group donation.