Christmas Fund 1996 Generosity Needs A Second Wind Fund’s Most Crucial Final Days Are Upon Us
OK, here are The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund facts:
Only five days remain until Christmas.
A goal of $400,000 has been set.
A total of $313,971.09 has been raised.
But more than that amount has been spent for toys and food vouchers. And Santa’s toy bag must be refilled at least once every day.
So far, 7,204 people - representing 11,694 children and 10,159 adults - have applied for assistance at the Christmas Bureau.
Spokane’s low-income families have today and Monday to apply for help before Christmas arrives.
No one wants to shut the doors before 3 p.m. Monday.
And no one is threatening that action. But if the trend continues …
“People have been very appreciative,” said Ken Trent, director of the Christmas Bureau. “They write us notes and tell us they’re pleased with our toy selection.
“I look at our folks here (applying for help), and they don’t have anything,” he said.
“I’m not worried about the money,” Trent said. “It will be there.”
It’s difficult to know what to do at this stage of the fund drive. Plead too much and an excess of money arrives It’s difficult to know what to do at this stage of the fund drive. Plead too much, and an excess of money arrives and people think, “they’re crying wolf.” Don’t plead enough, and we end up in the red.
That’s why the facts have been laid out above.
It’s now up to our readers to digest the facts, mull them over in their heads and hearts and then decide what to do.
Remember a few days ago when the Wendle car dealers pledged to donate $100 for every new Nissan sold by Christmas? And the $2,000 check for new cars already sold this month?
Jaremko, Nissan and Saab dealers at 6901 E. Sprague, teamed up with Wendle and are also donating $100 for each new Nissan sold.
“To ensure the money is received by Christmas, we wish to prepay our donation based on the estimated sales of 20 Nissans per store,” wrote Paul Jaremko, president, with a check for $2,000.
That makes a combined gift of $4,000 from the two car dealers to help ensure children of our low-income neighbors have a toy and a voucher to help pay for a festive Christmas Day meal.
“Bringing happiness and joy to those in need is what this holiday season is all about,” Jaremko said.
“Help make a difference!”
Employees of the Washington State Patrol hosted their sixth annual Christmas auction to help support the Christmas Fund. This year, the auction fell on Friday, Dec. 13.
But Friday the 13th was a lucky day, said Sgt. Chris Powell, spokesman for the group. A total of $1,060 was collected from sales of homemade craft items such as wreaths, a wooden church and other figures, a fishing trip, a day of golf and a dinner cooked at the highest bidder’s home.
Their Christmas gift was dedicated to the memory of WSP Detective Donald K. Campbell, who died this year of cancer, and Bob Heale, a well-known stunt pilot who was killed in an air-show crash.
The troopers also donated to the Marine’s Toy for Tots program.
A gift of $1,000 came from the Justus Bag Company, 11205 E. Trent, “in memory of our father ‘Curly’ Justus,” wrote Doug and Duane Justus. This is the second gift from the Justuses.
There were two anonymous donations of $1,000, one with a note that read, “in gratitude for blessings received since moving to Spokane.” The second anonymous gift is to be matched by the donor’s employee, US West.
A combined $540 came from the employees of Spokane Pull Tab and Bingo Supply, 30 E. Trent, and the Party Palace, and their employer, Patricia Johnson-Ebel; they elected to donate to the fund rather than exchange Christmas gifts with one another. There was an anonymous donation of $525.
An anonymous gift was given “in memory of our dads and grandfathers.” Bruce W. Nelson, 4015 S. Dearborn, contributed $450 on behalf of his associates: Jaynie Hansen, Stacy Muse, Judy Dougall, Robbie Bergman, Larry Askvig, Brynn Schwarz, Gabriella Castillo, Darlene Dvorak, Esther McKay, Sandra Boline, Michael Wagner, Brenda Kast, Carla Hunnicutt, Terrry Higgins, Valeria Mitchell, Rebecca Safty, Joe Casey and Janice Moreland.
“May this Christmas season bring cheer and good tidings not only to them, but to all less fortunate,” Nelson wrote.
BPS Supply Company, Inc., 218 E. Trent, gave $400 “in thanks for our blessings and the opportunity to share with others.”
Giving $350 was the staff of Randall & Danskin, 1500 Seafirst Financial Center, 601 W. Riverside; $300 came from Jim Johnson Cement Contractors, 1005 W. Bellwood; and Mark and Terry Rathbun, Liberty Lake; gifts of $250 came from Evelyn Hickman, Colfax, “in memory of my mom, Tillie Krause”; and A.C.M. (Achieving Critical Mass) with matching funds by Dr. and Mrs. Donald Rappe in memory of Dean Engelbrecht; there was one anonymous donation of $250.
Gifts of $200 arrived from The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, 1014 N. Pines, with a note that said, “We know there are many in need this holiday season, and through the combined efforts of everyone in our community, a holiday season in which everyone is our community is taken care of can be a reality, not a fantasy,” wrote Leslie Brennan, chairwoman.
“No one can eliminate all need, but everyone can do something, even when times are lean.”
Other $200 gifts came from TAK Petroleum, Inc., 59 E. Queen; Ruth Smith, 714 W. Saxon; Joseph Kincaid, M.D. and his staff of Nora, Judy, Melissa, Pat, Terri and Michelle, “with gratitude for our own blessings and in honor of the birth of the baby Jesus.”
Also giving $200 were R.W. Johnson, 3718 W. Beacon; Fred and Sharon Clark, Chattaroy, and thee anonymous donors. The Spokesman Review Thursday Lunch Bunch gave $190 rather than exchange gifts.
Another grandmother checked in, accepting “The Grandmother Challenge,” Bobby Allen, 6120 N. Lidgerwood, contributed $160 in honor of her grandchildren LeAnne and Travis Reynolds, Jacob and Seni Dial, Misty and Colby Engstrom and great-grandson Kiel Reynolds. (Go grannies!)
Gifts of $150 came from Ed and Marcia Smith, 1703 W. Ninth; John and Donna Leaming, 1411 S. Maple; and two anonymous donors, one in memory of the donor’s husband.
D. Todd Wylie and the staff at Advanced EyeCare Center, 2420 E. 29th, contributed $130, with: “Once again, in lieu of exchanging gifts, we have chosen to support your helping people.”
Donations of $125 were received from James and Joan Davies, Colbert, in honor of their grandchildren Michael, Matthew, Katty, Candace and Susie Jo. “We know they will all have marvelous Christmas celebrations and will be happy to know they are helping other children to do the same.”
Mary and Bob Morgan, 5209 S. Woodfield, gave $120 in honor of the Morgan grandchildren: Matthew, John, Lauren, Christine, Tyler and Jennifer.
Randall and Leesa Braun, Greenacres, gave $110 “in loving memory of Fran and Jackie Blessing”; an anonymous donor gave $103.
Gifts of $100 came from Bob and Maureen O’Brien, 1511 S. Riegel, in memory of their son, Jeffrey; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith, Liberty Lake; Central Lutheran Church, 309 W. Fifth, from its Good Samaritan Fund; and Lloyd and Pat Bobysud, Spangle.
Dona Hahner, Fairfield, who also accepted “The Grandmother Challenge” on top of her last week’s donation made in the memory of her two children, Greg and Jill Hahner. “This second donation (of $100) is in thankfulness to the Lord for my two remaining children, Ronda and Bryan, and their lovely families” - her six grandchildren.
David Bowman, 3425 N. Audubon, gave $100, as did James Walesby, Almira; Anne-Marie Rocheleau, Mead; C. William Savitz, 4603 W. Regency; Glenys Burquist, 1010 S. Rockwood; Louise Howard, 2707 E. 37th; Chris Worth and Katy Brownlee, 12341 E. Olive; Frank and Mary Kay Vawter, Spokane; Sue and Rick Betts, Spokane; Lillian Olsen, Spokane, in memory of her husband, Oscar.
Pauline Soehren, 9621 N. Seminole; Jim and Jackie Vroman, 1202 E. Newark; Beryl Dubois, 620 W. Seventh; Douglas and Lynn Beu, 2727 W. Strong; Neal and JoAnn Skaufel and family, Veradale; Valley Metal Fab Steel Station, 517 S. Felts; H.A. Everest Company, 9701 N. Ridgecrest; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Allison, 11315 E. 44th.
Ruth and Bob Jensen, 2808 S. Monroe; Betty Bain, 2723 W. Wabash; John and Claudette Sayles, Liberty Lake; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Meisel, 1416 S. Ivory; William Barber, 2115 E. 34th, “in gratitude for all of our blessings.”
Other $100 donations came from the Amistoso family, Colbert, “in memory of our good friend Pat McAleer”; Rovella Vawter, 3221 E. 14th, contributed “in place of gifts for some of my relatives and thankfulness for all I have”; E.A. Peterson, 4301 S. Helena; John and Wilma Ednie, Newman Lake; the staff of Dr. Larry B. Knutson, who requested his gift from them be a donation to a charity.
Bob and Marian Hansen, 5208 S. St. Andrews, gave $100 as did Carl and Anna Rabe, Nine Mile Falls; Rob and Stacey Cossey, 5206 E. Silver Spurs Lane; Gary and Carol Lawton, 6802 N. East Bluff Court; W.R. Reynolds, 4527 N. Bemis; and seven anonymous donors, one a teacher who knows how many children and families there are who need help, and one in honor of their children’s Sunday school teachers at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church: Shirley Birchak, Cathy Mac-
Gillivray, Ellen Hollman, Patty Kollenborn and Shelia Yamamoto.
, DataTimes