Donations flow in to drive up Christmas Fund total
New donations to the Christmas Fund bump the total to $50,784.93. That’s nearly 10 percent of the fund’s $525,000 goal.
That’s the amount organizers say is needed to pay the bills for the charity as they anticipate greater need in the community. In 2010 the bureau served about 36,000 adults and children.
New donations:
Rick and Diane Betts, of Spokane, gave $2,500.
Ronald and Shirley Schoenberger, of Liberty Lake, gave $1,135. They made their first contribution 25 years ago, they wrote, and increased their donation by 10 percent each succeeding year.
Cecil Nuxoll, of Spokane, gave $1,000.
Terry and Kathryn Deno, of Spokane, gave $675.
Barry and Carole Jones, of Spokane, gave $500.
The South Hill Bunco Babes gave $473.
Rob Benedetti and Maria Yurasek, of Spokane, gave $250.
Giving $200: Steve and Karen Heaps, of Spokane Valley; an anonymous donor from Spokane; and Andy and Sarah Thornton and family.
Delbert and Frances Mattix, of Veradale, gave $150.
An anonymous couple from Spokane gave $128.
Giving $100: the Burlington Northern Veterans Association; the Crystal Chandeliers Ballroom Dance Club; and Barry Benoit, of Hauser.
Also donating $100 were the following Spokane residents: Yvonne and Jeff Trudeau; an anonymous donor; Randy and Linda Laird; Larry Luton and Susan Hales; Margaret Byers, in memory of her dad, Sen. John L. Cooney; and Lee Dominey.
Peggy and Bob Frank, of Spokane, gave $100 and sent a note calling the Christmas Fund “such a great support for all the needy families in our community.” Harold Wilson, of Spokane, gave $100 and wrote: “Sharing with others will make for a brighter Christmas for all.” Richard and Zella Novotney, of Spokane Valley, also gave $100.
Anne Franke, of Spokane, gave $74.
Lauretta Hughes, of Spokane, donated $60 “in memory of my mother, brother, sister and a great friend of mine.”
Giving $50: Steve, Gail and Ben Quaid, of Colbert; Ted and Louise Otto, of Cheney; Dorothy Myhrum, of Spokane; and Jay and Cheri Currier, of Tekoa, Wash.
An anonymous donor from Spokane gave $35.
Connie Vetter, of Spokane, gave $30, as did Christopher and Adina Eichorst, also of Spokane. An anonymous donor also gave $30.
Dave and Carole Youngman, of Spokane, gave $25. Greg and Illa Jean Swanson, of Spokane Valley, also gave $25.
Curt and Mary Jo Lorenz, of Chattaroy, gave $20.
How to give
• By mail: Donations may be sent to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 516, Spokane, WA 99210.
• In person: Deliver your donation to the guard in the lobby of the Spokesman-Review offices in downtown Spokane (999 W. Riverside Ave.) or Coeur d’Alene (608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200).
• Online: Readers can donate via PayPal at www.spokesman.com/ sections/christmas-fund. If you donate online, PayPal will deduct 30 cents plus 2.9 percent of your gift for its service.
ID requirements
• Christmas Bureau recipients face no income requirements, but each adult and child who receives a gift must meet identification requirements.
• Adults must bring photo ID for themselves and every person living in the household older than 18. In addition, each adult must show their latest utility bill, phone bill or rent receipt, which must list their name and current physical address. (P.O. boxes are not accepted as addresses.)
• For children, bring a document from a school, day-care center, DSHS office or another social service agency verifying each child’s name, address and date of birth. WIC folders are also accepted as ID for children.
• Note: Social Security cards are not valid identification for the Christmas Bureau.
If you go
• Where: Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana.
• Time: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Dates: Dec. 9-10, Dec. 12-17 and Dec. 19-20. The bureau is closed Sundays.