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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Christmas Bureau still needs help to pay for holiday cheer

As the Christmas Bureau serves its last family today and packs away any leftover toys and books for next year, it will be bittersweet. Something good has happened here.

Once again, every needy child in our area can have something special to open for Christmas, and every family who came to the bureau for help was treated with respect and care.

Now the hopeful waiting begins. While children wait with eager eyes for Christmas morning, bureau organizers wait for funds to arrive. Will we meet our goal and get to continue this community tradition in 2015 without being forced to cut back or downsize?

Spokane has a strong track record. The last time the bureau fell short of its goal was 2004. Yet fundraising has a ways to go this year: $225,138 to be exact.

So it is with hopeful gratitude that we thank our donors, big and small, whether you’ve already given or plan to send or deliver that check between now and noon Tuesday, the cutoff time to make the list of donations reported on Christmas morning.

In this section we’ve shared recipient stories, each one unique but united by struggle, hope and thanks. We’ve featured some of the compassionate volunteers who make this charity part of their Christmas tradition and ensure donor dollars go to the charity’s mission. And we’ve covered a handful of those donors, this year focusing on those who gave small sums with big hearts.

But we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the generosity of our large donors. We couldn’t do this without you. Repeat donors like Travis Pattern and Foundry Inc., the Klaue Family Foundation, Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, Avista, Testcomm and Jensen Distribution Services have given amounts that make eyes bulge.

Those six contributions ensure more than 4,000 children can be served by the bureau. These donors understand how much the bureau means to children like 3-year-old Patrick Springer, who jumps up and down when asked about Santa, and to his mom, Sheena. Thank you. Their story will be shared next week.

Today, we also want to thank our in-kind donors, those businesses that donate goods and services to help the bureau run smoothly with as minimal cost as possible. Because of you and the volunteers, the bulk of donor dollars go where they’re intended, for the needy families we serve.

In-kind donations

Fred Meyer gave a $25,000 sponsorship to buy books for the bureau’s book program, supporting childhood literacy.

Dave McGann and Jerry Pederson’s Spokane Valley Arby’s restaurant donated daily lunch for the volunteers during the bureau’s nine-day run at the fairgrounds, 100 each day.

The House of Charity cooks provided soup every day for volunteers.

ABC Mini Storage provided two storage units for year-round supply storage and a moving truck to haul supplies.

Penske donated a truck for setup and tear-down days.

Parsons Construction Co. donated trucks and labor to transport bureau supplies during setup.

Mike Kight with Pizza Pipeline provided discounted pizza for the volunteer orientation.

Bunzl, Walmart, Rosauers, Albertsons and Yoke’s Foods all donated plastic bags to bag the books and toys.

Costco supplied flatbed carts.

Cravens Coffee and URM donated coffee and cups for the volunteers and recipients.

Jim Custer Enterprises & LCD Exposition Services provided the festive partitions and holiday décor.

The Spokane Chiefs Hockey Club delivered fan-donated stuffed animals.

Central Valley High School students donated stuffed animals.

The Hoo Hoo Express Club of Brookdale Place at Harbor Crest made and donated about 800 small wooden trucks for kids in the childcare area.

Donut Parade and Safeway donated donuts for the volunteer break room.

Earthworks Recycling supplied a large recycling container and will pick up the cardboard left over after thousands of toys are unpacked.

St. Mary’s Catholic School donated pajamas.

Providence Health Care employees donated sport balls.

The Thor Street Fred Meyer donated Playland bracelets for the childcare area.

New donations

Sara Weaver-Lundberg, of Airway Heights, gave $4,854.70 via PayPal.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $1,000.

Donna Hares, of Spokane, gave $1,000 in memory of Donald W. Hares. “This was his favorite charity and I have now made it mine. Merry Christmas to all the volunteers and all the families who are helped,” she wrote.

The Spokesman-Review editorial Freebie Sale contributed $631.51

Georgene Patten, Barbara Cunningham, Herb Patten and Rich Patten, of Spokane, gave $500. “It’s that time of year when my husband Les Patten would look at gifting in the spirit of Christmas and your Christmas Bureau always topped the list. Thanks to all your volunteers who do so much to brighten holidays for the families in the community as well as thanks to your Associates – Catholic Charities and Volunteers of America,” wrote Georgene. “Blessings for continuation of this amazing holiday support to those in our community who see that Spokane is a wonderful caring community for all.”

Michael Flannery and Dean Lynch, of Spokane, gave $500. “In this time of joy and celebration there is still a need. We hope this helps fill it,” they wrote. “To the staff, volunteers and donors, thank you all for your work, care and consideration.”

The Jones family, of Spokane Valley, gave $500.

Marion and Robert Cummings, of Spokane, gave $400.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $250.

Michael and Pamela Dixson, of Spokane, gave $250 in honor of Tom and Lori Huling.

Robert Witte, of Spokane, gave $250 in memory of William E. Witte.

Karen and Steve Heaps, of Spokane Valley, gave $250 “in memory of our Big Boy Hershey, who loved seeing everyone at Christmas,” they wrote.

Spokane donors giving $200 include Beverly and Jud Heathcote, two anonymous donors, Kirk and Janet Bierwagen, and Paul Grubb.

Peggy and Dan Jeremia, of Spokane Valley, gave $200.

John and Donna Leaming, of Spokane, gave $150.

Thomas and Linda Hempel, of Apache Junction, Arizona, gave $100, writing, “Wintering in Arizona and thinking of those less fortunate this Christmas!”

Doloris and Nels Nelson, of Liberty Lake, gave $100.

Tom and Bette Brattebo, of Liberty Lake, gave $100.

Felicia and Keith Lasseigne, of Medical Lake, gave $100, as did Charles and Janet Watkins, of Newport.

Lou and Mary Haymond, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $100. “Thank you for organizing this community effort. What a great cause,” they wrote.

Spokane donors giving $100 include Alice and Richard Hayes, Dick and Marnie Wands, Eugene Kelly, Gloria and Melvin McCuddin, an anonymous donor, Joyce and Wendell Schutt, Keith D. and Sara W. Gehr, Peter and Charlotte Yocom, Raymond and Susan Tansy, Robert and Kathy Bohler, and Tom and Julie Overhauser.

Dorlon and Karen Merritt, of Spokane, gave $100. “So happy to have my hubby home from the hospital. And hope this helps someone in need,” wrote Karen Merritt.

Gerrie and James Walsh, of Spokane, gave $100. “When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them! Romans 12-13. Given in honor of our two oldest grandchildren, Dominic and Colleen,” they wrote.

Kris and Shelley Mader, of Spokane, gave $100 in honor of Joe McKinnon, “who shares his Gonzaga men’s basketball tickets with our family,” they wrote.

Randy Ulberg and Pam Medley, of Spokane, gave $100 in memory of Pam’s dad, Don Sampson.

Sharen Robertson, of Spokane, gave $100 in memory of her husband Dave Robertson, and grandson Austin McKenzie.

Winnifred Mason, of Spokane, gave $100 in honor of Charles H. Mason.

Mary and Bob Morgan, of Spokane, gave $100. “We have enjoyed volunteering at the Christmas Bureau for many years, and congratulate Catholic Charities, Volunteers of America and The Spokesman-Review for their service to our community,” they wrote.

James Kearney, of Spokane Valley, gave $100, as did Patricia and Niel Wright.

Rebecca Bringhurst, of Greenacres, gave $96.80 via PayPal, as did Ann Shaw, and John Sayles, both of Spokane.

Roger and Mary Ann Gilpin-Gordon, of Sun City, Arizona, gave $96.80 via PayPal in memory of H.W. and Eva Gilpin and Dorothy Gordon.

Robert Harris, of Spokane Valley, gave $75.

Wanda Freese, of Spokane, gave $65.

Spokane donors giving $50 include Adrienne Goodwin, an anonymous donor, Jim and Carrie Clanton, Kate and Jim Jones, and Marion Moos.

Doris Matsch, of Spokane, gave $50 in remembrance of a dear friend, Dorothy Rochon Powers.

An anonymous Spokane Valley donor gave $50 in memory of her son Jim.

Douglas and Jane Salvadelena, of Spokane Valley, gave $50.

Deborah Rose, of Spokane, gave $48.25 via PayPal.

Thomas Richardson, of Spokane, gave $48.25 via PayPal in memory of Patrick J. Richardson.

Steve Reed, of Spokane, gave $40.

Todd and Barbara Heaton, of Lincoln, Washington, gave $30.

Spokane donors giving $25 include an anonymous donor, Joyce Thompson, Rick and Virginia Clough, and Will and Ginny Terpening, who wrote, “Merry Christmas! Thank you for your good work.”

Margot Wilson, of Spokane Valley, gave $25, as did an anonymous Veradale donor.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $15.