Student help a driving force behind toys for bureau
On Monday afternoon, the seventh-grade classroom at St. Charles School in north Spokane looked like Santa’s workshop.
More than 20 students in their blue and white uniforms kneeled on the floor, hammering wooden wheels onto wooden trucks. Whack, whack, whack. Giggles. Then the sounds of trucks being test-driven across the vinyl tile floor.
The children were finishing the assembly of 750 toy trucks bound for the Christmas Bureau at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center next week. The trucks were made by members of the Hoo Hoo Woodworkers Club, which donates hundreds of the wooden trucks and cars to several area charities.
The behind-the-scenes efforts of the woodworkers and the St. Charles students are just a sample of the work needed to operate the Christmas charity. The bureau distributes Christmas fixings to needy families.
The wooden trucks will be given to children in the child care area of the bureau, where they play while their parents are in the toy rooms selecting Christmas toys.
The charity would not be possible without generous donations to the Christmas Fund. Donations totaling $16,665.80, led by an $8,700 donation from employees, management and the owner of Gold Seal Mechanical, brought the fund to $25,639.65. Much more is needed to reach the goal of $485,000. Donations of all amounts are welcome.
The St. Charles seventh-graders assembled half the trucks before Thanksgiving and they expect to have the rest completed by Friday.
“This makes me feel good inside,” said 12-year-old Briony Denker. Her left thumbnail is black as a result of hitting it with a hammer a week ago, resulting in the following lesson: “You shouldn’t hammer too hard,” she said.
Added Demetrius Watson, 13, “You don’t want to hit the wheel on the side or it breaks.”
The seventh-grade teacher at St. Charles, Sandy King, is a friend of Karen Orlando, who coordinates the Christmas Bureau.
“She asked if we would take on this project three or four years ago,” said King. “The kids enjoy doing something they know is for other children. At this level, they have to do five hours of community service every quarter, and this is something they can do here.”
King said the students are careful about producing a quality product. “We are just part of a chain. The students actually set up an assembly line. Some bring their own hammers from home. Others test-drive the trucks to make sure the wheels turn easily,” she said.
“My dad’s a carpenter, so I am used to hammering stuff,” said Watson. “I think this will make little kids happy at Christmas.”
The family of at least one student in the classroom has been a Christmas Bureau recipient. He said that it’s nice to make toys for the charity because it was nice when he got Christmas gifts there.
Donors and the amount of their donations to the Christmas Fund will be published daily. Donors who wish to remain anonymous should indicate their wishes on the donation check or an accompanying note. Following are the donors and the donations:
The employees and management of Gold Seal Mechanical Inc. and Gold Seal Service contributed $7,500, and the president of Gold Seal Mechanical and Service, Richard Dixon, added $1,200. “Your Christmas Fund has done a great job over the years in helping to provide for our less fortunate neighbors,” wrote Dixon in an accompanying note.
The Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists included a note with their $5,000 donation: “The physicians and staff at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists would like to take this opportunity to express our best wishes to the Spokane community. The Christmas Fund represents the true spirit of what a community is all about – giving back to those in need. We hope this gift, along with all the others, will help further the sense of community sharing that we believe makes the holidays most enjoyable.”
The estate of Charles S. Schmeltzer, of Spokane, left the Christmas Fund $1,000, in memory of Irvine Lininger Schmeltzer.
William Roberts, of Spokane, sent $500 and a note: “My wife, Virginia, willingly gave to the Christmas Fund for many years. In her memory, I am pleased to send you $500.”
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $250.
Jim and Karen Woodworth, of Spokane, donated $200.
John and Linda Muir, of Cheney, donated $100, as did J.T. Stanley, of Medical Lake; and Ruby Simonson McNeill, of Spokane. An anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $100 in memory of Charles Schmeltzer.
Barry Barfield, of Spokane, donated $96.80 (after a service charge deducted by PayPal), in honor of the Gonzaga Prep community.
Anne Franke, of Spokane, gave $69.
Eddie Heavner, of Spokane, donated $50, as did Steve, Gail and Ben Quaid, of Colbert; and Alex and Louise Vanderwilde, Larry and Sandra Neil, and Lane Klees, all of Spokane. The Soroptimist International of Spokane donated $50. Stan and Melissa Drumm, of Spokane, sent $50 in memory of Lilian Morgann Clanton.
Thelma Ostby, of Chattaroy, and Gladys Gosset, of Spokane, sent $30 “so other families may have a Merry Christmas and so they may look forward to better times in the year ahead.”
Gaylord Thomson and Jean Rabe, both of Spokane, each donated $25.
An anonymous donor, of Spokane, sent $20.