Fund’s need growing as spending begins

Thursday, the need for donations to the Christmas Fund moves into high gear as the Christmas Bureau opens and begins distributing new toys and food vouchers for holiday dinners to thousands of the area’s needy families. The Christmas Fund pays for Christmas fixings given out at the bureau at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.

That’s why a generous donation from Ken Roberts Management Inc. is so opportune. The local investment firm contributed $12,000. Donations totaling $26,024.50 boosted the Christmas Fund to $74,418.75.

Ken Roberts Investment Management Inc. donors include: Ken Roberts, Stacy Gourley, Lynn Fruin, Kathy Franklin, Sharon Roberts, Vinson Cai, Kevin Crawford, Deb Crawford, Heather LaLone, Leslie Yates and Jeff Trudeau.

“We have participated in the past as donors to the Christmas Fund, and we appreciate all the efforts you have made for our community,” wrote the management group. “We are thankful for your efforts on behalf of those who need assistance, and we appreciate all the donors and volunteers of Spokane that work together to make our community a better place for all. Please accept the contribution with our good wishes.”

Tuesday and today are set-up days at the Christmas Bureau.

Dozens of volunteers began unloading boxes of toys from the delivery trucks Tuesday morning, a task that took nearly six hours. Late into the afternoon, volunteer toy buyers Judy Theis and Janelle Kortlever were checking boxes against their order lists and sorting the toys according to age group.

Meanwhile, two huge boxloads of new hardcover books for adults arrived on a truck, a surprise donation from the Volunteers of America Thrift Store. Tables were set up, and a half-dozen volunteers began sorting and stacking the books.

Another group of volunteers unpacked thousands of children’s books and began stacking them by age group.

Mike Reilly, the volunteer bureau chairman, and Bruce Butler, the previous chairman, unloaded six-foot folding tables and chairs from an ABC Mini-Storage truck.

All day, the forklift beeped, and when the cold penetrated layers of clothing, the volunteers wrapped their fingers around cups of hot coffee in the warehouse’s makeshift lunchroom.

“We’re way ahead of where we were last year at this time,” said Reilly late in the afternoon.

Today, the teen toys arrive on trucks at 9 a.m. At midday, nearly 300 volunteers will gather for orientation. Then, they will set up and test the computers, spread rugs in the child care area and finish the displays of toys in the toy rooms.

Thursday at 10 a.m., the bureau opens to begin distributing toys, food vouchers and candy.

Christmas Fund donations of all amounts are welcome. Donors who wish to remain anonymous should indicate their wishes on the donation check or in an accompanying note.

Following are the additional donors and their donations:

The Spokesman-Review Freebie Sale officials donated $1,366.50, proceeds from their sale on Dec. 4.

Charles Haywood, of Spokane, donated $1,000 in memory of Alice Haywood.

Lynn Taylor, of Athol, Idaho, gave $1,000, as did T.W. Clark Construction, of Spokane.

An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $600.

Ed and Virginia English, of Spokane, sent $500, as did Russell and Fern Dalton, of Pinehurst, Idaho.

Louis Franks, of Spokane Valley, gave $500 in memory of his wife, Vita M. Franks, and in memory of their dearest friends, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Burnside.

The South Hill Bunko Babes, of Spokane, donated $378.

Steven and Lorrie McNutt, of Spokane, sent $300, as did the Nuxoll family, and an anonymous donor, all of Spokane.

Pete and Sharon Fairchild, of Liberty Lake, donated $250, as did Jan and Dennis McMann, of Newport, Wash., and Jerome Keller, of Spokane.

Lorraine and Daniel Klobucher, of Chattaroy, sent $200, as did Burton and Shirley Pendleton, Roy and Clara Donder, and an anonymous donor, all of Spokane. Bonnie and Bud Nelson, of Spokane, sent $200 and a note: “Thank you for the wonderful job you do with this fund. You help not only the needy but the donors as well, by making us feel better by helping others.”

Gail and Viola Burchett, of Spokane, donated $200 in memory of Tim and Brenda Gail.

Betty Littell, of Spokane Valley, sent $200 in memory of her husband, Marv Littell, and Sally Littell.

Lowell and Shirley Mouser, of Otis Orchards, donated $100, as did Cathy Mirich and David Williams, Flo Fiveash, Alexis and John Chasse, Mary Ann Gordon and Roger Street, Marcus Lehmann, and Lorna Stevenson, all of Spokane.

Morris, Lucille and Michael Slavens, of Spokane, donated $150, as did Dorothy and William Turner, also of Spokane.

John Hocking, of Spokane, sent $100 in memory of Pauline B. Hocking.

Morris Gaylord, of Las Vegas, Nev., sent $100 in memory of his mother, Myrtle Gaylord, “who was a reporter and feature writer for the Spokane Daily Chronicle from 1931 until 1960.”

Gene Hubbell, of Spokane, donated $100, as did Evilena Cozzetto, Richard and Mary Schroeder, Roger Palmberg, Bert Jacobson, and Lois Richards, also all of Spokane.

Lee and Greg Linwick, of Veradale, sent $100 and a note: “Here’s hoping that this will help bring a little peace and perhaps joy into someone’s life. Thanks for continuing to do a great job with this fund.”

Virginia Besemer, of Spokane Valley, gave $100, as did Doug Bruce and Teresa Vanairsdale, of Spokane, John and Janet Gray, of Spokane Valley, The Crystal Chandeliers Ballroom Dance Club, of Spokane, an anonymous donor, of Cheney, an anonymous donor, of Colbert, and two anonymous donors, both of Spokane.

The 14 members of the Robert and Mary Morgan family sent $100 and a note: “Thank you for all the joy you spread around our community during this Holy Christmas season.”

An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $100, “to honor those of the medical community that help keep me going: Holly Pena, Dr. Mel Lindauer, Dr. Larry Milsow and Dr. Mark Everett. And to Dr. Berdine Bender for helping my husband. May God bless them all.”

Sarah and Frank Wasicek Jr., of Spokane, donated $100. “We would like to honor our beloved parents with our donation this year. They are in heaven: Viktoria and Frank Wasicek, and Martina and Jerome Chandler. May God bless everyone involved with this special endeavor.”

A previous donation of $75 by Joseph Toombs Jr., was made in memory of his mother, Lois Toombs.

An anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $65.

Richard and Marnie Wands, of Spokane, sent $50, as did Sheri and Kimball Bernard, Jean Flechel, Clinton and Patricia Degenhart, Ewing and Olevia Page, Ralph and Debra Prouty, and Carol and Ronald Schaller and the Schaller family, all of Spokane.

An anonymous donor, of Spokane Valley, sent $50 in memory of her son Jim, “who loved Christmas.”

Hattie Carroll, of Spokane, donated $50 in memory of LeAnne Lollis and John Lollis.

Chuck and Judy Smith, of Spokane, gave $40, as did the Strites, and an anonymous donor, also all of Spokane.

Willbann Dale and Virginia Terpening, of Spokane, sent $30, in honor of their grandchildren, Carter and Owen Terpening. The Reeds, of Spokane, also donated $30.

John Choate, of Tonasket, Wash., sent $25 and a note: “God bless you for all you do to make a better Christmas for so many.”

Julia Rodgers, of Colfax, Wash., donated $25, as did Frances and Susan Hayden, of Chewelah, Wash., Alene Pokstefl, of Greenacres, Gordon and Terri Radford, of Hayden, Idaho, Margaret Tollackson, of Spokane, and Dorothianne McDowell, of Lind, Wash.

Michael and Barbara Dooley, of Spokane, sent $25, as did Charlotte Greene, of Spokane Valley, Marie Holliday, Karen and Dalton Jassman, and an anonymous donor, all of Spokane, and an anonymous donor, of Liberty Lake.

An anonymous donor, of Spokane Valley, sent $20, “to thank two Good Samaritans who changed a flat tire for me in the pouring rain recently.”

Kathleen Winters, of Cheney, donated $20, as did Kathy Strong, of Spokane, and Mrs. S.S. Byrnes, of Medical Lake.

Jackie Silvey, of Spokane, donated $10, as did Douglas and Jane Salvadalena, of Veradale, and an anonymous donor, of Spokane.