Christmas Fund 2000 Hefty Gains Needed For A Happy Ending Numbing Cold And Scant Resources Put Needy Families In Holiday Bind

The wintry weather isn’t the only frightful thing these days. So is the prospect of The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund not meeting its goal of $425,000.

The gifts tallied for Sunday reached $11,375, for a total so far of $272,928.14. That leaves about $152,000 to be donated this week to make sure each of our neighbors in need can have a happy holiday.

The people we are helping simply don’t have enough money to include Christmas in their budgets. And with the snow and dropping temperatures, they have the added burden of higher heating bills.

What a dilemma it is to be faced with keeping your house warm, on the one hand, or buying gifts for your children, on the other.

We can help these people, these neighbors of ours who need us, to have at least a bare-minimum Christmas. We can provide a toy for each of their children and a food voucher for each family so they can buy extra groceries.

Most of those who visit the Christmas Bureau are the working poor. They have jobs - but not jobs that pay enough. Most are entry-level jobs with salaries that can’t possibly stretch far enough to pay for child care, rent, heat, lights, groceries … These people need our help.

This is a shameless out-and-out plea: Won’t you please help us meet our goal? It would be next to a miracle to raise $152,000 in five days, but this town has created miracles in years past and there’s no reason we can’t do it again.

The Christmas Bureau always operates on faith. Charitable agencies have faith that the thousands of dollars in food vouchers they write every day will be covered by Christmas Fund gifts. They have faith there will be enough money to pay for the thousands of toys it takes to make sure every child has at least one gift to open on Christmas morning.

Help us keep the faith.

The owners, managers and staff of VEHRS Inc., Supplier to Restaurant and Retailers, 511-A N. Ella, contributed a gift of $2,645, with this letter: “We have exceeded our last year’s donation, and would like to challenge all restaurants and beverage distributors to do the same!”

The employees and customers of BMC West Corp., Building Materials, 6206 E. Trent, donated $1,500 with this note:

“In today’s world of political infighting and individual agendas, it is a pleasure to support a cause that brings us all together. … Efforts like this are felt throughout the community, and provide each of us the satisfaction of knowing we have been able to work together to improve the lives of our citizens.”

The folks at Banner Furnace & Fuel, 122 N. Helena, must be extremely busy now. They contributed $1,250 with this wonderful poem: “To show that we care! We would simply like to share, and let you know Banner will be there.”

It’s from Banner’s service people, fuel drivers, office staff and management.

A gift of $500 came from “Jean and the late J. Herman in memory of his cousin, Myrtle Gaylord, a longtime Spokane news woman, and her mother Jennie Levy.”

There was also an anonymous gift of $500 from Colbert.

The staff of Lincare Inc., 345 E. Third, once again contributed $400 “in recognition of the generous spirit of our medical community,” wrote Gary Kuck, manager. “In this season of giving and caring, all of us are grateful to help those in our community to have a very merry Christmas.”

Inland Fastening Systems Inc., 1306 E. Trent, contributed $300, as did the children of Gene and Janet Raska, both of whom died this year. “Christmas was always a special time of the year at their house,” their letter read. “We will miss them greatly.” The gift in their memory was from Steve Raska, Dave Raska, Mark Raska, Lynette Anderson, Lori Black, Gina Hogan and their families.

Erika and James Balazs, 3206 W. Connaught Drive, gave a gift of $250. Donations of $200 came from Joyce Stefanoff, 529 W. 28th; Ed and JoAnn Brown, Veradale, who wrote: “Thank you for being here for us to give to the less fortunate”; and an anonymous donor.

Stephen Darling and Karen Dahl-Darling also gave $200, with this encouraging comment: “I have no doubt that you will reach your goal again this year as the people of Spokane have big hearts and understand that Christmas is all about sharing with others. Merry Christmas, Spokane.”

And merry Christmas to you. May your words come true.

Jim and Elaine Peplinski, Spokane, donated $100, plus $10 for each of their six grandchildren, in memory of their longtime friend, Don Dinius, who died last month.

Peter, Gay and Tannis Witherspoon, 3305 W. Rutter Parkway, made a gift of $150 to honor Jim and Cheryl Witherspoon rather than exchange gifts.

There were also two anonymous $150 donations.

Gifts of $100 came from Maurice and Rosemary Twomey, Elk Grove Village, Ill.; Don and Nettie Simonson and family, 2607 S. Manito Blvd., “in memory of our beloved uncle, Kent Simonson”; the First Covenant Church, 215 S. Division; Harold and Edna Hart, 48 W. 27th; Evelyn Hickman, Colfax; Barry Bergau, 1916 E. South Riverton; and Jack and Phyllis Worden, 11617 N. Kathy Drive.

“The speech language pathologists working for Spokane Public Schools hope our contribution of $100 will add cheer for Spokane’s less fortunate families this season. Sincerely, Camille Haskins, SLP.”

Pat Jenkins, 20 W. Sumner, gave $100 and wrote a cheerful note despite her circumstances: “Hi `Funders’ … This is to remind me of the marvelous `Christmases Past,’ for 35 years, before my dearest husband, Arch, had to be in a nursing home - albeit a good one.”

Other $100 gifts came from Mary and Lester Brown, 3808 W. Wellesley; Kenneth and Victoria Ferro, 16608 N. Morton Drive; two anonymous donors, and Christa and Anthony Bledsoe, 2317 S. McDonald Road, in memory of their friend Charlie Ivie, who recently died. “He was a much-loved educator and college professor, and a caring person.”

The Rockford Women’s Club donated $75.

Gifts of $50 came from Christopher and Karen Sherfey, 3519 S. Chelsea Court; Alan and Deanna Eppinger, 5206 W. Lyons; Ken and Carol Poole, 12903 E. 11th, in memory of Carol’s parents, Henry and Edna Gorle; Mary Hubbard, 5726 N. G; Bonnie Cox, 911 E. Beacon; Willard and Kristine Nestoss, Greenacres; Robert and Jeanette Johnson, 11710 N. Madison; Linda and Gerald Ensminger, Spokane; and three anonymous donors.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Harper, 2233 W. Rowan, contributed $40.

Those giving $25 were Julie Farmer, 3818 N. Cook; Mr. and Mrs. K.R. Petty, 15324 N. Juneberry; Betty Mills, Rockford; Enrique and Suzanne Polle, Pullman; three anonymous donors, and Melvin and Donna Camp in memory of Carl R. Madison, who died Dec. 1.

Gary and Cheryl Allen, 13223 E. Guthrie Drive, gave $20, as did an anonymous donor, who wrote: “We give thanks for our grand kids and how fortunate we are.”

There was also an anonymous $15 gift.