Christmas Fund 1995 Pgt Fuels Fund With $5,000 Donation

Pacific Gas Transmission Co. gave a tremendous boost to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund with a check for $5,000.

Donating to the Christmas Fund is a holiday tradition for the company at 5105 E. Third, wrote Susan Meyer, director of community relations for Washington and Idaho.

“PGT has operated in Eastern Washington and North Idaho since 1961 and we are glad to lend a hand to our neighbors who find themselves in hard times during the holidays.

“From the employees of Pacific Gas Transmission, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

Many of those experiencing the hard times Meyer wrote about will now be able to enjoy the holidays, thanks to the PGT gift.

The $5,000 helped bring Saturday’s total to $9,015, which makes the year-to-date sum to $32,441.81. That means the fund is now at nearly 9 percent of its $380,000 goal.

Today is Advent Sunday, the first of the four Sundays preceding Christmas, the birth of Christ. Hope is the hallmark of Advent Sunday.

Sermons on hope will be preached throughout the Christian world today. At the local level, there is great hope that the Christmas Fund will be successful - but there is also a huge need for hope in the form of dollars yet to come.

Hope is heard in the voices of children as they perch upon the ample laps of department-store Santa Clauses, whispering their most secret gift wishes in his ear.

Hope is evident on their faces as they anticipate Christmas morning, after Santa completes his midnight run Dec. 24.

And, if you look beyond the despair on the faces of the moms and dads whose incomes cannot possibly cover Christmas expenses, you might also see hope - hope that a city of people will play Santa and come to the rescue of their children’s hopes and dreams.

Face it, Christmas is a big expense for everyone these days. Even people whose incomes rise far above the poverty level groan about how much Christmas costs.

But families with enough money to meet monthly bills and still buy gifts should take a closer look at those whose nearly hopeless pleas of help have a desperate ring to them.

If your family decides to give an extra gift this year to the Christmas Fund, it might very well be the gift that will make a difference between hope and futility to a struggling family.

There are basic things potential donors should know about the Christmas Fund:

Every cent of every gift is used to buy toys and pay for food vouchers. There are no overhead expenses, no salaries, no extra costs of any kind.

The gifts are tax-deductible since the money is only collected by the newspaper, and is given entirely to the three non-profit agencies managing the Christmas Bureau: The Volunteers of America, Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army.

Those in need receive toys or games for each child in their family, along with food vouchers to help buy groceries.

All gifts are accounted for in the newspaper, with the donor, address and gift amount listed, unless anonymity is requested.

All vouchers and gifts distributed are entered into a computer to prevent inadvertent duplication.

Many of us have experienced lean times, when a dollar bill found in a long-forgotten pocket would produce a whoop of joy.

One Inland Northwest family hasn’t forgotten when things were tight. The Grays sent a check for $1,100 with the note, “Hard times are something you don’t forget - ever. Thanks for all your hard work.”

It’s we who thank you, happy your financial situation has improved and for your willingness to share.

Last week, an article told of one family’s tradition of giving to the Christmas Fund rather than exchanging gifts with one another.

That got the family of Bob and Julia Fairchild to thinking and before Bob knew it, a new tradition was begun in their clan. Their daughters, Kyla, Sheila and Pamela will now draw names among themselves and the parents will give to the Christmas Fund rather than exchange gifts with one another. Dad was elected to bring in the family’s first collective gift of $300.

Mel and Lois Hattenburg of M&L Construction, 12918 N. Freya, sent $250, as did A.R. and L. Lois Harper, 5615 Drumheller. E. Rudd, Veradale, gave $200 “in memory of my husband, Wally Rudd, who worked many years as a volunteer at the Christmas Bureau.” Dr. Charles F. Benage, 12615 Mission, also gave $200.

Giving $100 are Dr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Hegedus, 5712 N. Drumheller; Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Probert, Nine Mile Falls; Clayton M. Durrant, 6009 N. Wiscomb, in memory of his wife, Luira; Ronald and Sandra Willcocks, 1305 N. Wilbur Road; and Olive and Jim Halby, 5804 N. Sutherlin, with this wish: “We are praying for each one working on the fund, giving and receiving, will be blessed with the true joy of Christmas.”

Also sending $100 are Jon Gardner, 128 W. Seventh; Betty Ostheller, 303 E. 14th; Alan and Bev Massie, 5807 N. F, “to help bring a little happiness to those in need this Christmas”; and three anonymous people, including one who gave in memory of John and Tena Patterson.

Giving $50 are an anonymous donor; Dean and Bonnie Edwards, Fairfield; Verda Coryell, 1424 N. Locust Road; Robert and Julie Rotan, 2810 W. Holyoke; and Ron and Carolyn Aubrey, 1512 Crown, whose “grandchildren, Jared and Carlee, want all children to have a visit from Santa - so we are sending this to help them.”

Will and Betty Birr, Otis Orchards, sent $50 in memory of their two grandsons, Joseph Guatney and Greg Allison.

Mrs. D.I. Martin, 2324 E. Cedarwood Court, sent $40 “hoping to help bring Christmas to some other people.” Michael and Konni Dietz, Spokane; and Walter D. Hoefel, 1100 N. Superior, each donated $35. Elsie Hester, Rockwood Manor, gave $30, along with one person who requested anonymity.

Neal and Marjorie Graeber, 2632 W. Wabash, sent $25 with the note, “We have been very blessed and are happy to contribute to the Christmas Fund.” There are also two $25 anonymous gifts, one given “in memory of my grandfather, Martin Abbott, and Aunt Helen Hutchings. Both were kind, warm people who loved children.”

Giving $20 are Audrey Dunton, 1100 N. Superior; and an anonymous couple who saved their dimes and nickels over “some time, and we’re sending it to you;” $10 gifts came from Catherine Roberts, 1102 N. Pierce Road; Bernice “Babe” McClure, Mead; and Mrs. Scott Gleason, 4104 N. Stevens with this: “It isn’t $2,000 as some send, but hopeful it will help a little.”

, DataTimes