Remember the 10 Casto children with their great big smiles that beamed from last Tuesday’s front page? They and two other siblings had donated $44.92 money they found and earned to the Christmas Fund.

Those children have generated lots of warm comments.

The latest comes from Stephen Cook, a Tacoma resident visiting Kellogg, who saw their picture and read about “their remarkable gift.”

He was so moved, he sent a $500 check to the Christmas Fund in their honor.

“Their generosity and selflessness reflects the kind of community spirit and love which - well, which the world needs more of,” Cook wrote. “It thrills my heart to know there are families and children like the Castos.”

How wonderful that a visitor to our area would act on his reaction to that family. Thank you, Stephen Cook.

Those good Samaritans we wrote about at the beginning of the Christmas Fund drive seem to be everywhere.

Another touching letter comes from a mother who knows what it is to want for your children.

Jamie Crump, 822 N. Wilbur, contributed $100 to share with others the blessings God has given her.

She wrote, “Being a single parent, I know what it feels like to want so badly to give my daughter a happy and memorable Christmas. I hope this donation will, in a small way, give another mother the warm and fulfilling feeling of watching her child open presents on Christmas morning.”

Can’t you imagine the ache you’d feel as a parent if your child didn’t have anything to open on Christmas Day? It would make your heart cry.

Other donations received Monday: The retired salaried employees of Kaiser Aluminum, gave $75; members of the Sons of Norway’s Whist Group gave $66, the result of each member dropping 50 cents into a jar once a month.

Jack Weldon and Colleen Birchill, 3010 E. 13th, gave $55. Gifts of $50 came from Gladys Rader, 710 E. Euclid; Richard and Alice Hayes, 603 W. Shoshone Place; Golda Gelghorn, 101 E. Hawthorne; Dezso Nagyfy, 2625 E. 29th; Felix and Denise Mutschler, Cheney; Todd Caldwell of Caldwell Concrete, Veradale; Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Zimmerman, 8907 E. States Lane, Other gifts of $50 came from “Bobby and family, in loving memory of our John”; Charlotte Greene, 12305 E. Southwood Lane, “In memory of my beloved late husband, Frank Greene. The Christmas Fund was Frank’s favorite charity.”

Eleanor York, Chattaroy, gave $50, as did Chevron Retirees Assn.; Joey Roberts, 10, and Aaron Roberts, 7, 4815 S. Helena, gave for “those who are less fortunate than us.” George and Marilyn Miller, 409 W. Jay, gave $50, as did Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Huey, 1724 E. 61st; John and Doris Hodgson, 12102 S. Plater Drive.

Other $50 gifts came from Marguerite Leeper, 1801 E. Upriver Drive; Ralph Hooke, 2116 W. Mission; Martin Bavuso, 3625 E. 51st; Duane and Ruth Isaac, 13211 E. 24th; and Violet L. Nagley, 3406 W. Olympic Place, “in loving memory of Dean Nagley from his family.”

Elin A. Zander, Valleyford, Lane, gave $50, in the name of her niece Devin Johnson, who died this year of leukemia. Zander wrote, “I know Devin, who was a remarkably generous 6-year-old, would have liked the idea of helping to provide a little Christmas to other children.”

Brian and Janice Marquette, 5217 N. Walnut, gave $50, as did Edward and Grace Reynolds, 2148 W. Riverside; Dennis English, 12623 E. Broadway; Warren G. Christianson, 2614 E. Heroy, of the Christianson Living Trust, “in memory of our Aunt Irene Anderson of St. Paul, Minn.”

There were five anonymous donations of $50, including one in honor of 10 great grandchildren from “proud grandparents in Greenacres.”

There was one anonymous donation of $40; Jan Hale, 4312 W. Excell, gave $35; members of the Happy Snip and Stitch Sewing Club, gave $33.

Donations of $30 came from Virginia Young, Spangle; and Eric Walter, 2922 W. Dalton, who wrote, “The kids who donated their allowances have huge hearts. I’ve wanted to donate for years and seeing their donations convinced me that I need to do it now.”

Other $30 donations came from Leah Goehner, 11905 E. Grace, “to help the less fortunate in memory of Beverly Erickson who passed away in July,” and John Ogden, 7123 N. Clancey Court.

Contribution of $25 were from David and Lorna Belyea, Nine Mile Falls; Louise Sonnengburg, 12912 E. 12th; Willabelle Godfrey, 1838 S. Maple Blvd.; Earlene and Lenetta Qualls, 5415 N. Navaho Road; and the Hannah Chapter of Westminster Congregational Church, with a note from secretary Elsie Patterson, “We feel this is a great opportunity to help those in need.”

Other $25 gifts were from Eloise Meineke, 3127 W. Walton; Katy Brownlee and Chris Worth, 12431 E. Olive; Muriel M. Townsend, 2400 N. Wilbur Road; Hattie N. Mitchell, 4903 N. Calispel; Betty Mills, Rockford; Bret and Janet Stein, Chattaroy; Vicki Randall, Libby, Mont.

Katherine Kay Hickox, 707 W. Fifth, gave $25, as did C.M. Follevaag, 707 W. Fifth; and four anonymous donors.

Giving $20 was Paula Thornton, Priest River, who included a quote from Meander of Athens: “To live is not to live for one’s self alone; let us help one another.”

Other $20 gifts came from Gene and Susan Hennige, Coeur d’Alene; Jeannie Greene, 3005 E. Francis, Chester and Joann Allison, Medical Lake; and one anonymous donor.

Members of Brownie Troop 170, Arlington School Girl Scouts, voted with a “resounding ‘Yes”’ to contribute $20 to the Christmas Fund “to help buy presents and food for little kids that had none,” wrote Jeannie Greene, troop leader. The girls are Jamie, Kelley, Mellisa, Miki, Danielle, Jessica, Katie, Mellisa, Jackie, Alex and Briana.

W.J. and Wilma Kidwell, 5536 N. Drumheller, gave $15; donations of $10 came from Gottfried S. Ehrenberg, 1325 S. Cook; and Dorothy Carter, 1323 E. Decatur.

An anonymous donor sent $6 “in memory of our wonderful wife and mother. God has blessed us with such good neighbors and I am so grateful. We want and hope this check will help someone to have a better Christmas.”

G. Allen, 13223 E. Guthrie Drive, gave $5.

, DataTimes