Christmas Bureau (Dec. 12, 2016)

he Christmas Bureau is meant to make the holiday better for everyone, not just families with children. Adults, many of whom are seniors, or are disabled or homeless, don’t go home empty-handed.

Section:Gallery

Tue., Dec. 13, 2016

Nikkole Bell, a seventh-grader at Sacajawea Middle School, wears a "Happy Holidays" hat and sings Christmas carols with the Sacajawea Middle School 7th-grade choir at the Christmas Bureau, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center.

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Gary Earl Anderson, 79, picks out a pair of gloves with the help of volunteer Suzy Miller, right, at a table set aside for small gifts for unaccompanied adults, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at the Christmas Bureau at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. Adults can get a small grocery voucher, but the toys and books are only for kids. So a table has been set up where adults may get a pair of gloves, a hat or scarf to take home.

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Alaine Qualls, a volunteer, plays some Christmas carols on her accordion and sings along, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at the Christmas Bureau at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center.

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Volunteer Suzy Miller, right, helps Gary Earl Anderson, 79, try on a pair of gloves at a table set aside for small gifts for unaccompanied adults, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at the Christmas Bureau at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. Adults can get a small grocery voucher, but the toys and books are only for kids. So a table has been set up where adults may get a pair of gloves, a hat or scarf to take home.

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Trained volunteers staff an on-site childcare center at the Christmas Bureau, which helps parents and caregivers keep Christmas surprises.

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Michael Goldy carries 1-year-old Noah on his back while getting presents for three children in the toy room at the Christmas Bureau, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center.

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Christmas Bureau volunteer and language interpreter Valentina Semivrazhov shows the hearty lunch, with a choice of sandwiches provided by the local Arby’s franchisee, and other donated foods behind the scenes at the Bureau where dozens of volunteers take a quick lunch between hours of work helping clients of the bureau.

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