Line starts before day
The line began forming outside the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center gate at 4:30 a.m. Thursday. The first person in line, a woman who said she got up at 3:30 a.m. and drove in from Spangle, sat in a lawn chair bundled in a heavy coat with a scarf wrapped around her head so completely that only her eyes could be seen.
Every year she tries to be at the front of the line when the Christmas Bureau opens for the season, she said. She declined to give her name, as did all of the people waiting to get the basics of Christmas at the holiday charity.
She said she has three children for whom she planned to get toys. “Usually there’s a bunch of us here really early. We wait and gossip,” she said.
The second person in line, a tall man with paint-stained slacks, said he arrived at exactly 6:42 a.m. He walked from a nearby neighborhood and didn’t mind the early hour. He said he always gets up before the sun rises and takes a morning walk. He has no children, only a Siamese cat that is hopelessly spoiled, he said.
The Christmas Bureau opened officially at 10 a.m., but at 8, bureau chairman Mike Reilly invited those outside into the building to warm up and have a cup of coffee.
Normally hundreds of people line up before dawn on the opening day of the bureau. Thursday wasn’t normal. Only a few dozen people gathered and after the volunteers began processing their identification, there was no waiting.
“We couldn’t figure it out,” said Reilly. “Then it picked up quickly about midmorning, and the people told us that it was a late-start day in the schools. They couldn’t come here until the children went to school.”
By closing time at 2:30 p.m., nearly 1,600 families had been given food vouchers for a holiday dinner. Parents and grandparents had picked out toys and books for nearly 2,600 children.
The vouchers totaled $44,605, which means generous donations to the Christmas Fund are needed. The Christmas Fund pays for the vouchers and toys given to the needy families.
Donations of $5,093.60 brought the Christmas Fund to $84,447.35.
Donations of all amounts are welcome. Donors who want to remain anonymous should indicate their wishes on their donor check or in an accompanying note. Following are donors and their donations:
Greg and Ann Houghham, of Spokane, donated $1,500.
The employees and associates of Kiemle & Hagood Company, of Spokane, sent $1,000 and a letter: “Our company has established a Casual Day Fund, in which contributions are collected on a weekly basis throughout the year. This year, Kiemle & Hagood Company has selected to donate a portion of the money raised to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. We appreciate your organization’s continued commitment and efforts to support our community,” they wrote.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $500.
Gust Abariotes, of Spokane Valley, donated $250.
Lowell and Marion Severud, of Spokane, donated $200.
Beverly Massie, of Spokane, gave $200, in memory of her husband, Alan, who always helped others, she wrote.
Dennis and Patricia Doyle, of Spokane, donated $150, and included a note: “Thank you for making this available so we can help those here in the Inland Northwest.”
Cathi Lundberg, of Spokane, sent $100 to honor all who give their time to make this happen.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Veterans Association, of Spokane, donated $100, as did Jose and Anna Maria Cepeda, Richard and Alice Hayes, John and Zoe Ann Foltz, and John and Delores Skelton, all of Spokane; and Jayne Hansen, of Spokane Valley.
The Melius family, of Veradale, donated $100, in memory of Michelle’s grandparents, Joe, Helen, Frank and Izzy.
Robert Cunningham and Paul Grubb each donated $96.80 through PayPal, which charges a fee for each donation.
Ed and Eileen Looker, of Spokane Valley, sent $75 and a note: “As longtime readers of The Spokesman-Review, we appreciate your efforts to help those who need help.”
Albert and Mary Bair, of Spokane Valley, sent $50, as did Bob and Patricia Loomis, and an anonymous donor, all of Spokane.
Don and Joy Pentas, of Spokane, donated $30.
David and Lorna Belyea, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $25.
USA Wrestling – Inland Northwest, of Santa, Idaho, donated $20.