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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

For volunteers, giving what it’s all about


Volunteer Fern Swecker hands out books on Wednesday, the Christmas Bureau's last day of operation for the year. 
 (Holly Pickett / The Spokesman-Review)

At times on the final day of the Christmas Bureau, it appeared that the volunteers – the stockers and boxers, the greeters and cleaners, those who worked in data entry and as line sentries – outnumbered those being helped.

“We have volunteers of all abilities and talents,” said Karen Orlando, the bureau’s coordinator for Catholic Charities.

The bureau, which was open 11 days and funded with contributions to the Christmas Fund, relies on an army of 280 volunteers to dispense thousands of toys and books: The crew of schoolteachers who advise parents on what books their children might enjoy; the high school students who provide child care; the retired men and women who greet, shake hands and direct thousands of visitors.

Many are versed in self-deprecation or downplay their roles.

“I have a very critical role: I make the coffee,” the Rev. Frank Bach said, laughing.

Behind the red and white curtains of the toy room, Judy Tice demonstrated a model car racetrack, trying to intrigue parents with the toy.

“It goes much better when we demo them,” said Tice, 65.

As co-chairwoman of toys, Tice spent last spring thumbing through toy catalogs, searching for the best buys. This year, with December’s snowfall, the sleds went on the first day.

Diapers moved slowly until Tice packaged them with toys. A retired school district food manager, Tice said she had long wanted to volunteer.

“You feel good about it, and the people you meet are just so fun,” Tice said.

Dave Darling, 75, has volunteered with the bureau for more than a decade, and his coworkers have come to count on seeing his smile each day. Quiet but friendly, Dave said he enjoys the work and plans to continue volunteering.

“As long as my health is good, I’m happy,” he said.

Fern Swecker comes dressed for the job. On Wednesday, she wore a Christmas tree hat and a name tag that read “a touch of velvet.” Swecker, 56, said the phrase is a reminder to go out of her way to help people.

“I like to go the extra smile,” Swecker said. “You don’t just go to a job to go to a job. You want to enjoy it.”

“It’s a positive experience for the recipients and the volunteers,” said bureau co-chairman Mike Reilly. “People leave with a food voucher, a toy, and they have been treated with respect.”

Volunteer Del Topoll arrives an hour before the bureau opens each morning, making sure that his candy supply is stocked and ready to go. At 72 years old, the retired Washington Water Power employee has worked nearly every day the bureau has been open.

“It is work, but it’s Christmas, and it’s time to give back,” Topoll said.

As the bureau has evolved in the past 50 years, so has the role of volunteers. Some sit at computer screens, helping families register for gifts. Others ensure that the leftover cardboard is bound and ready for recycling. Others verify identification cards, handle cleaning, bring food to other volunteers, or rush out to buy more toys in emergencies.

Bach, a 75-year-old Catholic priest, remembers when the bureau gave away used toys at locations around Spokane – long before the bureau moved to computer databases and a central outlet. Today, the organizers and the volunteers have streamlined the massive operation.

Tyna Hilliard was the last recipient through the bureau Wednesday night. She came earlier in the evening, but brought the wrong paperwork and returned home for it. She returned just before closing time at 6:30.

“I’m just sweating. I’ve got all this adrenaline going,” she said as she sat at the identification table.

Her household includes her parents, her daughter and two grandsons, ages 4 and 9.

“My sister, brother and his wife, and my niece will be at our house for Christmas so we’ll have a houseful,” she said.

What’s on the menu for Christmas dinner?

“All the traditional stuff,” she said as she waited for her $40 food voucher to be printed. “Turkey, dressing, sweet potato pie, collard greens, yams, potato salad, spaghetti, ham, upside down pineapple cake. And my dad makes the best smoked turkey.”

The only disappointment for Hilliard was that the bureau had run out of toys.

Volunteers bought more toys about 2 p.m. Wednesday. Those were gone in a couple of hours and a second toy run was made. The last families through the bureau were given extra books for their children and vouchers to go buy age-appropriate toys since the table in the toy room held just four makeup kits, 29 clock radios and four Star Light Star Bright nightlights for babies.

A few boxes of teen toys were stacked in the hall, but the families that came last had younger children.

By the time the doors were closed and locked at 6:30 Wednesday, food vouchers worth $287,460 were given to 9,957 families, and toys were given to 15,906 children in 11 days. Christmas will be brighter for 31,884 people.