Christmas Fund 2000 Christmas Fund Needs Help Quickly With Holiday Near, Gifts Have Slowed Raised To Date: $110,243.94

In two weeks and two days Christmas will be here - and if things don’t look up soon, not all of us will have a happy holiday.

For the past few days, we’ve had a lull in the receipt of gifts to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. And when the flow of money slows, a big hole begins to form in the hopes of helping our in-need neighbors, who are depending on us to make their Christmas brighter.

The 30 gifts received for Friday’s tally amounted to $2,920, for a sum so far of $110,243.94 against our goal of $425,000.

That means we must take in $314,757 in those 16 coming days.

We’ve done it before, meeting tight deadlines, but it takes so much energy and heart, worrying if we can do it yet one more time.

If the Christmas Fund and all it accomplishes weren’t so important, it wouldn’t matter so much. But those of us who believe in it understand its significance.

We know how devastating it would be to have even one child go without a gift on Christmas Day. Can you imagine? Most of us are fortunate to be surrounded by family - immediate and extended - all of whom help to make the children in those families enjoy a happy, carefree day.

But there are thousands of families who don’t have that support. Last year the Christmas Fund helped 8,859 families. Toys were bought for 14,026 children. In more than one instance, it was the single gift a child received.

I know there are thousands of you who intend to support the Christmas Fund. You do every year, and we are grateful for that support. Won’t you please send in your gift soon?

Those whose contributions were received for Friday were:

Conner, Kasey, Kody, Madison and Kalen contributed $500. Dr. Steven Gregg, a specialist in orthodontics for children and adults, 508 W. Seventh, donated $300 in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald E. Gregg. There was an anonymous gift of $250.

R.A. and V.H. Bedford, 5721 N. Belt, made a gift of $200, while Mary and Harold Haimerl, 6003 N. Prairie Vista Lane, gave $150, as did Evelyn and David DeFoe, 8925 E. States Lane.

Gifts of $100 came from Sondra Wildman, 6821 N. Post; Garrison and Carolyn Kurth, 5712 N. Cannon; the office staff of Larry Knutson, 101 W. Cascade Way, contributed as part of his Christmas gift again this year; Ronald White and Linda Moulder, Cheney; members of the Spokane Lawn Bowling Club; and Harry Sparks, with this touching note: “In memory of Nadine and Lottie Sparks … in the spirit of giving at Christmas, and `How sweet it was,’ Harry for friends and family.”

Philip Evans, 5317 N. Hawthorne, also sent in $100, with this note: “As my first official `Christmas 2000’ act, I want to give this gift to all those who are less fortunate than I. God bless you and your Christmas Fund.” There was also an anonymous gift of $100.

Christine and Darrell Larson, 12020 N. Vistawood Court, contributed $75.

Gifts of $50 were from Agnes Hoglin, Spokane, in memory of her husband, Carl, and sons Tom and Dick; Patti, Bob, Jamie and John Wachter, Nine Mile Falls, “in memory of our son Michael. Hopefully, this makes someone’s Christmas a little brighter.”

Gerald Durand and Rebecca Milton-Durand, 2717 S. Perry, donated $50 “for the people who need a helping hand during the holiday season. This is a way to give back a small portion of the benefits our family is fortunate enough to receive throughout the year from our community. Thank you for providing a process to make giving so easy.”

There were two anonymous gifts of $50.

Sandi King-Hunt and Randy Hunt, Medical Lake, donated $35, “in loving memory of our grandmother Evelyn Robins; mother Margaret Stanley; and father Art Hunt. As they made our lives brighter, may this make someone’s Christmas brighter.”

David and Elizabeth Krise, Spokane, donated $30, as did Ray and Kathleen Killian, 1211 E. Lyons, “in memory of my brothers and sister who enjoyed the holiday.”

Gifts of $25 came from Ann Nichols, 11105 E. Main; Judith and William Anderson, 4011 S. Lacey; and Merle Wellington, Greenacres, who wrote, “I believe that you do a great job for the less fortunate in Spokane. I wish I could send more, but my pension will not handle any more.”

There was also an anonymous $25 gift made in honor of Carol R. Madison.

Waltraut and Marion Hasler, 3808 N. Washington, gave $20, as did an anonymous donor. Greg and Illa Jean Swanson, 13617 E. 26th, made a gift of $10.