Christmas Fund 2000 Grocery Store Chain Delivers For Needy

The gift to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund was major; the accompanying note was brief:

“Safeway is again pleased and privileged to be able to participate in raising funds to make Christmas a little brighter for those in our community in need.”

The check was for $5,000.

Our appreciation is immeasurable.

There aren’t enough ways to say “Thank you” for such generosity. That gift helped Saturday’s tape reach $6,394, for a total so far of $42,665.94.

Keep in mind there’s a goal of $425,000. There are 22 days before Christmas. Sigh.

Giving Christmas gifts is based on the frankincense, gold and myrrh the Magi presented 2,000 years ago to Mary and Joseph in honor of the birth of the baby Jesus.

Most would agree that buying presents has gotten a little out of hand during the intervening two millenniums.

Most of us work ourselves into a frenzy trying to select just the right gifts. We buy and buy until we’re all but satisfied that we’ve done our best to wrap things that are meaningful and pleasing to our mate, children, grandchildren, siblings, friends. … If we run out of cash, we charge. All in the name of making Christmas merry.

But what about giving a gift to someone in the name of that baby who so changed the world forever? Those three kings in the Christmas story passed down through the centuries were strangers to Joseph and Mary and their youngster. Yet they felt compelled to help the parents of the infant others wanted to kill.

Regardless of your religious persuasion, try to imagine what the world would be like had Christ never lived. Grim is a mild description.

What could be a more appropriate Christmas gift than to make the holiday less austere to the child of a low-income family than it would otherwise be without your help?

There are thousands of Inland Northwest youngsters whose parents don’t have enough money to last the month, let alone make Christmas a fun time for their children. Last year, the Christmas Fund bought toys for 14,026 children - and the statistics aren’t apt to change much this year. Some of those children had only the Christmas Fund gift to open.

We receive notes of thanks from parents, saying they can’t imagine how they would have survived the holiday without those perfect strangers who supported the Christmas Fund.

The fund has helped make Christmas a happy time for innumerable children during the 56 years it’s been a factor in the Inland Northwest. And it’s all because of people like you - individuals, businesses, churches, clubs, organizations. … Alone, we can’t do much to help others; together, we can do incredible things.

One reason so many like contributing to the Christmas Fund is that all of their money goes only for its intended purpose: to buy toys and provide food vouchers for low-income families. That’s because there are no administrative costs in operating the fund or the Christmas Bureau where the gifts and vouchers are given out.

Everything connected to the fund is donated, with the exception (for the first time) of the bureau building, and the newspaper will cover the rent of nearly $5,000. Scores of people volunteer their time to take the applicants’ information and to distribute the food vouchers and toys. These are truly incredible, caring people.

Money left over from any year’s drive is used to buy toys for the following year. This allows bureau officials to buy toys in great volume when prices are the best. That makes for real buying power.

All of the money - every cent - is divided into two checks to the Volunteers of America and Catholic Charities, which buy the toys and underwrite the food vouchers. Because they are charitable organizations, your gift of money is tax-deductible. The Salvation Army also helps administer the Christmas Bureau; and the Second Harvest Food Bank is preparing a separate selection of gifts for those needing help.

If this sounds like something you’d like to help with, please join us. We need all the friends we can muster.

Here are some who have already helped: Spokane Projection Service contributed $300; Sam and Janet Whitcomb, 2027 E. Upriver Drive, gave $200 with this note: “Because we care about the poor and wish to help you and your fund give them a merry Christmas.” An anonymous donor from Valleyford gave $199.

Those giving $200 were Betty Bone, 700 W. Seventh; Tom and Joanne Hunton, 721 E. Thurston, in memory of their mothers who died this year; and two anonymous donors.

Gifts of $50 came from George Baldini, 12005 E. Eighth; Joe and Reva Hughes, Deer Park; Alan and Diane Bisson, 10108 E. Cimmaron Drive; and Ron and Carolyn Aubrey, 1512 E. Crown, who wrote: “We are so thankful for healthy children and for our grandchildren Jared and Carlee Johnson. Please accept this in memory of my dear mom, Cora Rioth.” There was also one anonymous $50 gift.

Atwell and Dorothy Johnson, 6114 N. Elm, contributed $25 “again in memory of our beloved grandson, Michael.”

Eleanor Walters, 4212 N. Vercler Road, sent $10, as did an anonymous donor who wrote: “I am very proud to be living in Spokane. This city is so caring, loving and generous for all in need. I wish I could give more.”