For one group, one donation isn’t enough

In addition to individual and corporate donors, the needs of the Christmas Fund garnered the attention of a number of community service clubs, among them, the Southside Newcomers.

The group donated $200 to the fund earlier this year. A second check, this one for $400, arrived with a note: “At our Christmas luncheon today we voted to send an additional check. We feel there are too many in our community who need help at this time of year, especially when children are included.”

Indeed, there are thousands of needy families, and in addition to distributing food vouchers to them, the Christmas Bureau allows parents to “shop” in the toy room for a new toy for each child in the family. The toys are put into opaque plastic bags so the children will not be able to see what they will be receiving on Christmas. For some children, this will be the only toy they will get on Christmas, so parents spend a considerable amount of time in the toy room making their choice. Volunteers say it is not uncommon for some people to spend 20 or 30 minutes looking at each toy before choosing one.

The bureau distributed 1,237 toys on Monday and gave food vouchers to 767 families. Donations of $14,943.92 brought the Christmas Fund to $174,346.44. The goal is $500,000.

The following are additional donations and the donors (online donations, with processing charges deducted, are denoted by an asterisk):

Jules and Loralee Pieroni, of Spokane, donated $100, as did Mike Prager, the BNSF Veterans Association, and Herb and Marlyce Cardle, all of Spokane; Margaret and Ray Crawford, of Nine Mile Falls; John and Joan Cooper, of Veradale; and three anonymous donors, all of Spokane.

David and Susan Scott, of Veradale, gave $100, as did the Covenant Women Ministries, David and Maxine Breshears, Sue and Jim Morris, Vernon and Patricia Kilgore, Dana and Mary Besecker, and Clarice and Richard Hubbard, all of Spokane.

Harris Properties, of Spokane, sent $100; as did Ray and Marcine Doyal, of Coeur d’Alene; Sadie Mills, Frank and Jean Armstrong, Jonathan Holloway, and Roger and Mary Ann Gordon, all of Spokane.

Virgil and Erma Taylor, of Colbert, donated $100 in honor of their son, Larry, and daughter, Susan, and their families, Joel, Jeffrey, Larry Jr. and granddaughters.

An anonymous donor sent $100 in memory of Debbie McBride McDowell.

Jenny Polek, of Spokane, sent $100 in memory of her father, “Professor Fran Polek, who always told us the nativity story, followed by the story of the winter solstice. He wanted us to remember how early man must have feared that spring would never return and how joyous he must have been when the days began to get longer and winter receded and life continued on its cycle.”

Ernest Nye gave $96.80.*

Leslie and Meredith Hilby, of Liberty Lake, gave $75, as did Ronald and Rona Kreulen, of Spokane, and an anonymous donor, also of Spokane.

Rovella Vawter, of Spokane, sent $60.

Annette Kuntz, of Spokane, donated $50 in memory of her husband, Jerry Kuntz.

Tom and Joe Domini of Domini’s Sandwich Inc., of Spokane, donated $50, as did Russell and Betty Hite, also of Spokane; Steve and Stacy Johnson, of Rathdrum; Mark Schmitt, of Spokane Valley; Mount Saint Michael, of Spokane; Fran Christman, of Spokane Valley; and Raelee Easton, of Spokane.

Jim and Carole Heinen, of Spokane, donated $50 in memory of their parents, John and Anna Heinen and Andy and Florence Underdahl.

Roy Wilson, of Spokane, gave $50 in memory of baby Huey. Warren Christianson, of Spokane, donated $50 in memory of his parents and family.

Kenneth and Linda Leyde, of Spokane, sent $50, as did Burt Andersen, of Colfax; Michael and Virginia Manion, of Spokane; Laura and William Nestoss, of Greenacres; Bruce and Barbara Carmack, of Rockford; and Raymond and Sharon Brazington, of Spokane.

Peter and Annette, Laura, Kate and Henry Sanburn, of Spokane, gave $50. Melvin and Gloria McCuddin, also of Spokane, donated $50, as did three anonymous donors, all of Spokane.

Charlene and Robert Christenson, of Mead; gave $50 in honor of their grandchildren, Tyler, Kacey, Hunter and Coben.

Jo and Vanessa Vogel, of Mead, gave $40 in honor of Linda Martin’s birthday.

Kerry Todd, of Spokane, brought $40 to the newspaper.

An anonymous donor sent $40 and a note: “We have upped our giving, because every child needs a toy.”

Diana Flory, of Otis Orchards, gave $30.

Joe Fram and Doreen Barrett, of Spokane, gave $28.

Richard Washington, of Spokane, donated $25, as did Rob and Barbara Bly, of Newman Lake; John and Sharon Hopper, William and Janet Hale, Thomas and B.P. Pope, Patricia Stewart, Vivian and Cliff Hinrichs, Agnes Hoglin, and three anonymous donors, all of Spokane, and an anonymous donor, of Spokane Valley.

Lloyd and Shirley Seehorn, of Rockford, donated $25 in memory of Gene Grindal.

Charlotte Ulibarri, of Spokane, gave $25 in memory of Kenneth L. Ulibarri, Sr., and Kenneth L. Ulibarri.

Walter Waterbury, of Spokane, donated $25 in honor of Christine Gillette.

Elva and Connie McKnight, of Spokane, gave $20, as did Randy and Victoria Bunke, of Deer Park; and an anonymous donor, of Spokane.

Ruth Miller, of Spokane, donated $20 in memory of her husband, Charles.

Michele Cook donated $19.12.*

Dusty, Bryce and Tanner Cassell, of Airway Heights, donated $5.