Christmas Fund 1995 Common Cents Help Fund Grow

Pennies, cookies, a wish and a sacrifice.

Young Inland Northwest students collected pennies and turned them into dollars, baked and sold cookies, wrote about wishing there were enough money, food and homes for everyone - and then made a sacrifice to do what they could to make that wish come true.

All for The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund so children in Spokane will experience a Merry Christmas like the one they dream about.

The students’ combined gifts of $234 helped bring Tuesday’s total to $18,383. So far, $126,191.45 has been collected toward the $380,000 goal so low-income families and their children can enjoy a happier Christmas than they otherwise would have.

The fifth-grade Camp Fire Club at McDonald Elementary in the Valley held a penny drive. The 10 members “had a great time collecting $100 for such a wonderful cause,” wrote Marcia Asmussen. “Kids helping kids.”

Sixth-grade students at Mountain View Middle School in Newman Lake have been reading the newspaper in class and learning about the Christmas Fund, about families who would not have much of a Christmas without help from their neighbors. About children their ages whose parents can’t afford to buy gifts.

So, the Mountain View students baked up a storm - enough for two sales. Part of their money went to help the homeless near where they live, but they also wanted to help the children who will benefit from the Christmas Fund. So they mailed the newspaper a gift of $50.

Students in the fifth and sixth grades in Creston, Wash., also held a bake sale to raise money for the Christmas Fund. The 19 students made $57 so others their age can have a holly, jolly holiday.

“We enjoyed the project and want everybody to have a Merry Christmas,” their letter read.

And, finally, Jonathon Lamont, a first-grade student at Willard Elementary, wrote about his wish that everybody had money and food enough and that everyone was happy.

After Jonathon read his story to the class, the students discussed how they could help make his wish come true, said his teacher, Mary Ann Migaki. They talked about earning money with a lemonade stand or a yard sale, and borrowing a hammer from their principal to build warm houses for those without homes.

“I told the kids that there was a way to make Jonathon’s dream come true,” Migaki said. If she donated the money she would have spent on their Christmas party to the Christmas Fund, she told them, they would be helping other children.

“They all eagerly agreed that that’s what it’s all about,” Migaki wrote.

She mailed a check for $27 - $1 for each student.

Meanwhile, an anonymous donor gave $2,000 Wednesday, saying, “No child should be deprived of the magic of Christmas.”

Mrs. Walter Toly, 1224 W. Riverside, donated $1,500; there were two anonymous $1,000 donations.

The Mabel and Norman Mikalson Family Foundation gave $500. For years, Freeman School District teachers have donated to the Christmas Fund “because we believe it benefits our favorite people - children.” This year, they sent $358 “to honor one of us, Mr. Sam Pearson, who died over Thanksgiving vacation. We miss him.”

Employees of JRM Texaco Service at Third and Division gave $300 to “thank our many customers for their continued patronage and to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and most joyous holiday season.” The letter was signed by Jim McGranahan, Mike Lax, Mike Gibbons, Matt Lax, Patty Lax, Dick Gow and Allyson Falkner.

Also giving $300 were McVicars and Associates, 1520 W. Third; and three anonymous donors. Black’s Painting, 2104 W. 13th, gave $250, as did Edward and Barbara Morse, 1128 Club Court. Contributing $200 were Robert and Deborah Glaza, 16321 E. Valleyway; police motorcycle riders from Eastern Washington, members of the Blue Knights; Eugene and Selma Young, 4004 N. Lincoln; and two anonymous donors, one from Deer Park and another “to make Christmas a little better for someone here in Spokane.”

Making gifts of $150 were Bruce and Charlotte Campbell, 2311 W. 16th, “in loving memory of our daughter, Janice, and in thankfulness for our four sons, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren”; Harold and Sharon Cathcart, Colbert; Mr. and Mrs. Felix Entenmann, 2311 W. 16th; the Association of Retired Washington Water Power Employees; and Rita and Gilbert Doran, 2910 E. Snowberry Lane.

Nancy Green, 2020 E. Southeast Blvd., gave $125; 1940-41 graduates of North Central High School, who still get together for bimonthly dinners, sent $110, stating, “Spokane is special to us and we hope this will help make it special to those in need.” There was also an anonymous gift of $110.

Contributing $100 were the Spokane Postcard Collectors Club; David and Elin Zander, 13927 S. Traver Lane; Richard and Lucille Hallett, 7031 N. Greenwood Blvd.; Roy H. Davis Jr., 217 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.; Magnum Transnational Inc., 403 W. 25th; Beth Shaw, house director for University of Idaho’s Kappa Kappa Gamma, who issued a challenge to all of UI’s fraternities and sororities.

Other $100 gifts came from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Robinson, 3212 W. Euclid, “as a thank you to all the people who were so generous when our granddaughter (Angela Trickler) was seriously burned last April”; Dan and Sue Mencke, 2204 S. D; Edward and Sue Leach, Coeur d’Alene; Waldo and Lovena Hansen, 1008 N. Mamer Road; June Diffley, 3231 W. Boone.

Dr. Bill H. Molsberry, Northtown Office Building; Bob and Helen Marksbury, 1328 W. Dalke; Bette and Wayne Marienau, 3927 N. Oak, who wrote that rather than buy one another Christmas gifts, they donated to the Christmas Fund, “hoping it will make someone’s Christmas a little happier.”

Also giving $100 were Jim and Larrie Adamson, 5321 N. Millview Drive; P. Thomas and Janice L. Angstman, 3808 E. 48th; the Don Wilson Agency Inc., Insurance Broker, 1414 W. Garland; Maxine and Marvin Bailey, 1227 E. 27th; Harry and Leslie Jean Rendle, 14821 E. Riverside; the Sunrise East Lions, 1920 S. Evergreen Road, “so that others can have a little Christmas.”

Charles Tilford, Spokane, gave $100; as did Carol and Paul Ellis, 2629 E. 39th, “in memory of our friend and neighbor”; Graham and Judy Johnson, 11720 E. Glenview Court; Ken and Joann Dunlap, 3821 S. Gandy, “in memory of Grandpa Joe.”

There were 16 anonymous contributions of $100, including one given in memory of a dog named Murphy; another “in loving memory of my mother, to help someone at Christmastime,” and another in memory of Jerry Camp Sr.

, DataTimes