Christmas Fund 1997 Memory Of Quiet Santa Spurs Gift That Christmas ‘Never Left Me,’ And Woman Hopes Her $50 Can Help

Memories.

What would we do without them?

Not only can they make us feel good, make us feel as though someone we miss so much is right next to us, they can also teach us life lessons - help us remember to remember others.

That’s the kind of memory Gunhild Clegg of Spokane wrote about with her gift of $50 to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund on Saturday: “My memories of having a very special Christmas - when I was very young - because some mysterious ‘Santa’ left a delightful gift at our front door, have never left me.

“Merry Christmas.”

Memories are such a significant part of Christmas. We store up Christmas memories to be recalled decades later.

That’s one mission of the Christmas Fund - to build memories. Good memories in place of the sad memories that might be without the “mysterious Santas” who are donors to the Christmas Fund.

There are precious few days to help build memories of Christmas 1997 for thousands of little children in our area. Maybe one year, decades from now, a woman will contribute to the Christmas Fund because of a gift she received as a little girl.

Other memory builders on Saturday were:

Sharon and Kimberly who gave $75 “in memory of Uncle Joe. You’ll be in our hearts forever.” Joe and Charri Doeleman, 2410 W. Broad, gave $70.

Gifts of $50 came from A. Rizzuto, 5914 N. Elm; members of Lone Eagles Club, Spokane Eagles Aerie 2, 6122 N. Forest Blvd; and Virginia Denison, 1224 N. Sherwood, in memory of her husband, Walter Denison, who died in August, and brother Les Werle. “Neither would ever want to see a child in need.”

Other donations of $50 were from April and Jolynn Miller, 115 E. Stonewall, in memory of their grandparents, C.T. and Nina Miller; Chad and Judy Rigby, Greenacres; Jackie Courchaine, 705 W. Bellwood Drive; R.K. and Eva Akers, 9808 N. Comanche; Mr. and Mrs. George Holder, 4523 S. Skipworth Road; Grady L. Wade, 203 E. Seventh; and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Smart, Veradale.

Employees at Industrial Rubber and Supply, Spokane Industrial Park, gave $50 and wrote if their gift “helps at least one family, we will be happy.”

Also giving $50 were Brian and Mary Hirschkorn, 5902 W. Tomtom Court; Jean Morin and son John, 4215 E. Sumac Drive; Juanita Keck, 4329 S. Locust Road, in memory of her husband, Lewis Keck; and three anonymous donors.

Todd and Lesley Greiner, Liberty Lake, gave $40, as did W. Duffey, 118 N. Browne; and Rick Johnson and daughters, Danelle and Rhonda, 6910 N. Freya.

Giving $35 were Bill Bennett, 917 W. Falcon, in memory of Troy Bennett; Betty Fletcher, 112 N. Gillis Road, and two anonymous donors.

Darrell and Margaret Wolfe, 10911 E. Upriver Drive, gave $30, as did one anonymous donor.

Gifts of $25 came from Kerri and Jerry Walters, Liberty Lake; Dorothy Evans, 601 S. Park Road; law offices of Richard Agman, 1603 N. Monroe; Patricia Shoemaker, 6912 N. Old Fort Drive; Mrs. Arthur W. Watsdorf, 13014 E. 23rd; and Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Irwin, 302 E. Wedgewood.

Margie Bratcher, Greenacres, also gave $25, as did Mark and JoAnn Davenport, 7608 N. Dakota; Nancy MacKerrow, 704 W. Sixth; Oma Lee and Milton Robertson, 5612 W. Holyoke; and Duane Arkills, 2109 E. North Crescent, for Jack and Jan Arkills; Duanita Higgins, Newport.

Other $25 gifts were from Michael and Marion Fletek, Cheney; Margaret and Joseph Wunderlich, 8508 E. Bridgeport; B.L. Stephenson, Nine Mile Falls; Arthur and Elsie Patterson, 1028 W. Dalton; Lesley Webb, Coeur d’Alene; and Eileen Maxey, 11305 S. Stevens Creek Road, “in loving memory of my father-in-law Alma Oliver Maxey”; and three anonymous donors.

Chuck Warner, 1328 E. Crown, wrote: “Here is $20 towards the fund. I wish it was more, but I’m a student/bartender/soldier and money is sometimes tight. If I can help one person have a nice Christmas, then it is all worth it.”

Other donations of $20 came from Glenn Ferger, 9518 E. Fourth; Tammy Bell-Maring, 6115 S. Kaniksu Court; Grandma’s four grandsons, Kyle, Shawn, Jordan and Logan; Carol Stephens, 2319 E. Marshall, who sent her gift in memory of Jerry Ogle, on Dec. 17, his birthdate; and one anonymous donor.

Nick, Anthony and Stephen Rinaldis, 1016 E. Bismark, donated $20, money they saved from their allowances. Their mom wrote: “We have experienced what it’s like to be in need of assistance and were very blessed with the help and gifts we received.

“Spokane is a wonderful community and we are impressed by the generosity of others.

“Thank you so much for providing the means for people to help out.”

Emily Knopf, Pullman, gave $18. Gifts of $15 came from Nancy Hood, Greenacres; and Debbie, Jay, Zack and Jenna Humphrey, Spokane, in memory of Vera Romero.

Gifts of $10 were from B. Baum, Chattaroy; Kelly Jones, Mead; Marjorie Kelly, 2903 E. Foxwood Drive; an anonymous donor; and two little cousins, Kylie and Hailie, “who want to make a little girl like us have a happier Christmas.”

Jack and Colleen Birchill, 3010 E. 13th, mailed in another $6 in addition to an earlier donation of $55, with this note: “We’re increasing our original donation … in hopes some others can do the same to help the goal of your worthy endeavor.”

, DataTimes