Christmas Fund 1998 Blessings Count For More When They Are Shared Anonymous Donor Gives $200 ‘In Gratitude To God’

“Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.”

That old song was running through my head as I prepared to write today’s column on The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund.

I have so many blessings in my life - which I won’t bore you with - that to count them one by one would take all day. Or longer. The list would begin with my husband, children, grandchildren (of course, those sweet grandchildren) …

Here’s an idea: What if everyone in the Inland Northwest contributed a dollar for half of every blessing they have to the Christmas Fund? We’d meet our $450,000 goal overnight.

As it is, great progress is being made - thanks, in part, to an anonymous donor who gave $200 “in gratitude to God for the many countless blessings that have been given to me.”

That gift helped bring Wednesday’s donations to $5,532.50 for a total of $30,092.08.

There are 22 days until Christmas. (Just thought I’d mention that.)

One blessing of the Christmas Fund is that every cent is spent to help low-income families enjoy the holidays more. Donations are used to buy toys for each child and food vouchers for each family.

Nothing is withheld for overhead. People donate their time and energy to maintain the Christmas Bureau.

Other gifts received Wednesday included $600 from Charles and Patricia MacNeill, 13116 E. 23rd, who gave in memory of their grandson, Kevin Scott Austin.

Helen, Doug, D.J. and Roo Brajcich, 3535 S. Croydon Court, contributed $300 in “loving memory of our wonderful cherished son and brother, Scott Brajcich. Christmas will never be the same without the excitement and joy he brought to our lives and the holidays. Hopefully, with this gift we can send some of his joyous spirit to others in need and help heal our hearts also.”

Scott, a 1991 honors graduate of Lewis and Clark High School, died in an accident in Boston that summer. While his death certainly was a tragedy, his life obviously had been a blessing to his family.

An anonymous $300 gift also was received.

Howard and Vivian Young, 823 W. Holland, gave $200, as did Tom and Joanne Hunton, 721 E. Thurston, who included this note: “We would like to give a little that the Lord has given us. This is definitely a worthy cause.”

The Boart Longyear Drilling Division in Otis Orchards contributed $187.50; Alexis and John Chasse, 4916 N. Sipple Road, gave $150, as did Norman Genung, 937 W. 33rd.

Contributions of $125 came from Mark Hernick, 7206 S. Palouse Highway; Charlotte Jones, 326 W. Glass; and an anonymous donor.

Gifts of $100 arrived from Frank Vecchio, 2929 S. Waterford Drive; Jack Sandberg, 13700 N. Division, in memory of Jessie Ann; Morris and Lucille Slavens, 1927 W. Fairview; Marna Estep, 2903 E. 25th; H.W. Watts, 707 W. Fifth; and Nettie Herrman, 707 W. Fifth, “in memory of my brother, George Herrman, who always contributed to the Christmas Fund. May this help make some child have a merry Christmas.”

Seward and Ginny Besemer, Veradale, wrote this note with their $100 check: “I don’t know how many years you have organized and led the Christmas Fund here in Spokane, but I think it’s a great tradition and one we are pleased to support.”

Thanks, Besemers. The Christmas Fund began in 1945 - and has never missed a year since.

Judith Gardner, 128 W. 27th, contributed $100, as did Marshall Shore, 1801 E. Upriver Drive; Jim and Olive Halby, 5804 N. Sutherlin; Dorothy Kirkwood, 8005 E. Longfellow, who wrote, “It’s a privilege to be able to give a little to your fund. Of all the funds asking for money, yours is the only one where every dollar is given to those who need it so badly.”

Joseph Thomas, 508 W. Shasta, gave $100 in memory of Deanna Sue to help “bring happy smiles and full tummies to needy children.”

Debut Foundation for the Arts, an organization that will debut in January to oversee Debut Performing Arts, sent $100 as a “down-payment.” The group is staging a special performance of “The Jungle Book” by Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 in The Met, with proceeds going to the fund.

There were three anonymous gifts of $100, one with a word of thanks to all “who help make the Christmas holidays more merry for others.”

Contributions of $50 came from Lois Richards, 5910 N. Summit Lane; Jim and Barbara Christie, 3408 W. Providence; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Czechowski, 334 E. 16th; Jeanette Selbo, 10807 E. Third; Nancy Weller, 1304 E. 28th; Loris and Maren Kuest, 1314 W. Courtland; Martin Bavuso, 3625 E. 51st.

There were five anonymous $50 donations, including one from a woman who wrote: “Another year - another Christmas - another year to donate to the S-R Christmas Fund. It feels good to save spare change all year knowing it will go to a good cause in December.”

What a good idea.

Howard and Joanne Grimsrud, 1204 E. 38th gave $45; Donald Crippen, 40 E. 16th, donated $35, along with an anonymous giver.

Gladys Peterson, 1618 E. Glass, mailed in $30. Gifts of $25 came from Emma Mael, 629 E. Sanson; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Almanza, 1404 E. 17th; G. Jeffrey and Barbara Larsen, 6114 S. Madelia.

Larry and Barbara Anderson, 1509 S. Maple, gave $25, as did Kenneth and Ida Reynolds, Reardan; Charles and Peggy Estey, 8621 E. Buckeye; Mary and Scott Cooper, 1007 E. Carlisle, “in loving memory of Linda Cooper.”

Jan and Patricia Pasquale, 9219 E. Broadway donated $25, along with Cecil and Betty Innis, 13503 E. 25th; Michael and Marilyn Bigbee, Deer Park; Donald and Margaret Smet, 6827 N. F; Linda Williamson, 5224 W. Shawnee; Clara Woodruff, 1010 E. Columbia; and Lucille Gallion, 2304 N. Upriver Court.

Other $25 gifts came from Patricia Bories, 1027 W. Mansfield; George McClain, 1814 W. Maxwell; The Odin Club as a memorial to Agnes Bergquist, wife of member William Bergquist.

Jacqueline Eide, Odessa, gave $20, with this letter: “I’ve appreciated the Christmas Fund and all it stands for for many years. Before my retirement in 1992, my third-graders and I made the fund a good Thanksgiving project. We collected and counted money, wrote letters to go along with the final check and drew pictures. It provided a wonderful opportunity for children to express their care and concern for others.”

I well remember those letters and pictures. They were special.

Other $20 gifts were from Robert “Bob” Small, 1515 E. 38th; Lake Creek Ladies Club in Worley; and an anonymous donor who obviously loves kittens. Roy Charlton, 404 W. Central, gave $10.