Bureau represents community at its best
The Christmas Bureau, which opens Thursday, is a showcase for how a community can work together, the bureau’s volunteer chairman said.
“The neat thing about the bureau is that everyone there can reach out and help the needy in the community,” said Mike Reilly. “Whether it’s unloading a truck or setting up chairs, there may be a physician working alongside someone who may have qualified to be a recipient. The beauty of it is that everyone is working together.”
Volunteers will spend Tuesday and Wednesday setting up the bureau at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. Starting Thursday they will distribute Christmas fixings to needy families.
Donations to the Christmas Fund pay for this effort. Donations of $7,436 brought the fund to $43,319.25.
The annual charity depends on the generosity of the Inland Northwest community. Poor people come from throughout the region to get a new toy for each child in their families and a food voucher for a holiday dinner. Organizers estimate $485,000 will be needed to pay the bills. Donations of all amounts are welcome.
“We have people volunteer every year at the bureau who had been recipients at one time,” Reilly said. “They say that now they want to give back. They may not have the money to donate but they give their time.
“There is a very real awareness among the recipients that this is a very generous outreach. They feel a responsibility to give back, to show how much they appreciate what the community did for them.”
The bureau has all of the volunteers that it needs this year. Donations will be solicited through the end of the year. The donors and the amount of their donations will be reported daily in the newspaper. Donors who wish to remain anonymous should indicate their wishes on their donation check or in an accompanying note.
Following are the donors and their donations:
The employees and owners of Taylor Engineering, Inc., sent $3,000 and a letter: “The holiday season provides time to reflect on and give thanks for all we have received throughout the year from the Spokane community. Again this year, the employees and owners of Taylor Engineering, Inc., are pleased to support such a worthy cause. Thanks to you and all the volunteers for providing a way for us to experience the joy of helping others.”
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $1,000.
The Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church Deacon’s Ministry, of Spokane, donated $421.
Anonymous donors, of Greenacres, sent $400 in celebration of their new arrivals for 2006, Robert Jayran, Ara Elizabeth and Gabriel Raymond.
Judy Laddon and Larry Shook, of Spokane, gave $300.
John and Whitney Sestero, of Spokane, donated $250, as did Carlson & Sevigny TPA Services, of Spokane, and an anonymous donor, of Veradale.
Mary and David Larsen, of Spokane, donated $200, as did James and Mary Dunn, and an anonymous donor, also all of Spokane.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $150.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $110.
K.L. Marlin, of Spokane, donated $100, as did an anonymous donor, also of Spokane. An anonymous donor gave $100 in memory of Patti Fowler. Frances Diedesch, of Spokane, donated $100 in memory of Henry Diedesch.
The Wednesday Bridge Group, of Spokane, sent $70.
Carol Rolek, of Spokane, donated $50.
Edward McCormack, of Spokane, sent $25, as did Pauline, Edmund and Lori Dionne Carlson, also of Spokane; Gary and Carol Goodman, of Harrison, Idaho; and Mara Moscato, of Coeur d’Alene, and the J. Evanoff Co., of Spokane.
The Garden Springs Happy Hour Club sent $25 and a note: “Thank you for giving us the privilege to contribute to such a worthwhile cause. And congratulations to The Spokesman-Review for your long years of service to the community.” The Happy Hour Club, which began meeting in 1931, does not meet at happy hour; rather, the four remaining members meet monthly for lunch and to play canasta, said one of the members, Elsie Ohlemacher.
David and Carole Youngman, of Spokane, gave $25 in memory of Jean Morin.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $10.