Christmas Fund 2000 When All Contribute, All Share In Benefit Fund Reaches More People When Community Comes Together

Remember the fable of Stone Soup?

In my rendition, a village had fallen on hard times and its entire population was in jeopardy of starving to death. That is, until a woman filled a huge kettle with water in the town square and said she’d make soup out of stones to nourish everyone.

She stirred and stirred (hopefully before adding any stones) until first one person brought by a few potatoes to peel and plunk into the kettle. Some villagers with a little more wealth had pieces of meat to contribute; some neighboring farmers brought carrots and turnips and other vegetables - until finally there was a huge pot of soup for the entire town to eat. The townspeople thrived.

No one could have provided all that sustenance alone. But together, the townspeople solved their dilemma.

That’s how it is with The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund.

Last year, nearly 2,600 Christmas Fund friends sent in what they could, and our “pot” was filled until no child went without a toy and no family without a food voucher.

Won’t you be one of our “village friends” this year?

Those contributing $100 to Tuesday’s total of $24,215 - against the goal of $425,000 - were:

Maren Kuest and Loris Allen, 1314 W. Courtland; Marc and Bobbi Anderson, 1316 E. 27th; Neil and Dawn Worrall, 6904 S. Brookshire Court; Jay Moynahan and Cinde Johnson, 3708 S. Custer Road; Sally and Walter Bonsack, Greenacres; and Kay Le Friec, 4802 S. St. Andrews Lane, “to honor Margaret Threadgold and Bessie Moore, two lovely ladies who live in skilled nursing at Waterford. Both are much loved and well cared for and this is to help someone in need have a happy holiday.”

Others making gifts of $100 were David and Adrienne Goodwin, 5505 N. Drumheller, in memory of their families, the Rowes, McCloskeys and Scheels; Elmer and Dorothy Johnson, 8407 E. Bridgeport; Edna and Jack Redinger, 12402 N. Division; Harold, Heidi, Katie, Ben, Jacob and Ethan Clarke, 6313 W. Skagit; Paul and Donna Nolan, 5220 S. Morrill Lane, in memory of their daughter, Paula Jan Nolan; and Jerry and Mary Anne Littlemore, 2732 W. Weile, who wrote: “Let us share our blessings.”

Members of Spokane Sunrise East Lions Club, 1920 S. Evergreen Road, also gave $100, as did Stuart and Barbara Sherman, 4210 E. 80th, in memory of Wilford Bowman; Seward and Virginia Besemer, Veradale; Dorothy Kirkwood, 8005 E. Longfellow; and Jean Rose, Nine Mile Falls, who wrote: “In loving memory of my husband, my parents and my friend, Donna Edwards.”

Lucille Hinch, 7306 N. Standard, sent in $100 and said, “I’m sure you will meet your goal and, thereby, assist many needy, deserving families.” Roberta and Ray Forsberg, 3316 W. Bismark, also gave $100 and wrote: “I’m thankful to have our family and my husband home for Christmas Day.”

Other gifts of $100 came from John and Janet Gray, 4521 E. Second; Ray and Rose Hodgson, 2925 S. Howard; Emily Wilsey, 1304 S. Ballou Road; Lowell and Shirley Mouser, Otis Orchards; Norman and Sharon Genung, 937 W. 33rd; Donna Jean Sather, 1815 E. Rockwood Blvd.; and Charles and Bonnie Robinson, 3212 W. Euclid, “in memory of June Kelly who passed away in November. She made Christmas merry for other people with her display on East Third.”

Wesley and Dorothy Newbill, Otis Orchards, also donated $100, as did Kathryn Byrne, Spokane, in honor of her 10 “beautiful grandchildren,” in hopes “that The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund could somehow bring to other children the opportunity to experience the true Christmas message: `I am truly loved.”’ There were six anonymous gifts of $100, including one made in memory of Charles and Opal McCoy; another in the memory of the donor’s sister who died last July; and one with a note that read: “I can think of no better way to celebrate the feast of Christmas than by helping those who are not as fortunate as I am.”

A gift of $75 came from Edward Looker Jr. and Eileen Looker, “In the name of that special baby,” and another for that amount from an anonymous donor. Davy Adamson, Spokane, gave $55.

Gifts of $50 came from members of the Soroptimist International of Spokane; Mr. and Mrs. William Nestoss, Greenacres; Karin Overbeck, Deer Park; Meredith and Leslie Hilby, Liberty Lake; Randy and Julie Gehlen, 703 E. 32nd; Joan Muir, 7920 E. Valleyway; Marcia Renouard, 730 E. Glass, in memory of Terri Ann and Jerry Lee; and Jerry Hubbard, 6906 E. Sixth, “In memory of my Joannie.”

Jane Skindlov, 1917 E. 40th, gave $50, as did Dale Stiteler, 805 E. 41st; Gene and Jackie La Liberte, Liberty Lake; Freda Morgan, Coeur d’Alene; Audrey Mason, 5718 N. Alberta; Valerie Smith and Dan Coyle, 1118 W. Eighth, “in memory of departed friends, Beth Kiefel and Charles D. Smith.”

Other $50 contributions came from Ed and Jean Myers, 3226 W. Excell, “in memory of four people special to us who passed away this year”; Lois Snider, “in memory of my sister Irma, and husband Ray. They both shared helping others at Christmas”; and an anonymous donor.

Theodore and Roberta Beadle, 12011 N. Whitehouse, contributed $35; Charlene and Robert Christenson, Mead, gave $30.

Donations of $25 came from Frances Stevens, 222 S. Evergreen; Bonnie Van Camp, 6211 N. Normandie, in memory of Robert W. Van Camp; Duane and Marnene Arkills, 2109 E. N. Crescent, as a Christmas gift for Jack and Jan Arkills; Robert and Elaine Pachman,, 3231 W. Boone; Betty Dylina, 5011 N. Elm; and Shelly Bond, 2717 W. Courtland.

Brian and Sandra Brown, 1116 S. Park Road, also gave $25, as did Donald and Myra White, 7628 N. Dakota; Wilson and Marilyn Stuckless, Spokane; and four anonymous donors.

Hunter and Hayden Johnson, 3 and 6 years old, 8518 N. Weipert Drive, mailed $10 in an envelope with the newspaper’s address taking up nearly every square inch of the envelope. Cute. Tamara Evers, Spokane, also contributed $10.