Bureau closes for the year

A generous donation from the Fernwell Building management and its tenants bounced the Christmas Fund past its goal of $485,000 on Friday, the last day of operation for the Christmas Bureau.

The Christmas Fund pays for grocery store vouchers and toys distributed to poor families at the bureau.

Although bureau organizers are still adding up the numbers, early estimates indicate the fund will be able to pay the bills. On the final day of operation, bureau volunteers gave grocery store vouchers totaling $16,270 to 618 needy families and sent Christmas toys home for 734 children.

The final person to go through the charity’s line was a homeless woman. She left with a $15 food voucher and a romance novel.

Boy Scout Troop 348 and students in the DECA Club at Shadle Park High School arrived at the fairgrounds mid-afternoon Friday to help tear down the bureau operation. Volunteer toy buyer Janelle Kortlever went shopping again Thursday for enough toys to ensure all children would get a toy Friday. Only a handful of dolls, some trucks and makeup kits remained when the doors closed. The leftover toys and a few boxes of children’s books were put into donated storage space at ABC Storage for next year.

Although the Christmas Fund reached its goal, donations are welcome through Dec. 28. The bills for the toys will be settled up by year’s end. Recipients have through January to use food vouchers.

The Fernwell Building and its tenants, longtime supporters of the charity, delivered a check for $4,786, which brought the fund to $489,023.

“The Fernwell Building and its tenants wish to continue their tradition of making a donation to the Christmas Fund. We realize that it is our responsibility to share our fortune with others, so we would like to make a donation to help those in need this holiday season,” said a note signed “your friends at the Fernwell Building.”The building tenants include: The Fernwell Building, The Fernwell Executive Suites, The Radio Café, Law offices of Robyn L. Pugsley, Law Offices of Gerald Smith, Gregory & Swapp, Barbe Law Office, Boswell Law Firm, T. Shine Architectural Design, Faust Law Firm, Parsons & Burnett LLP, Mark Callen, Dennis Clark and Debbie Bardwell, Susan and Rick Matthews, Charles and Dianne Hammer, Dan Cadagan III, Paul Mitchell, Linda Dellens, Pat Biggs, Mike Jewell, Carol Haugen, Jere Jaline, Allyson Shoshana, Robyn Franz, Cheryl Chapen and Bob Foster.

The goal would not have been met without the generosity of hundreds of additional donors. The daily tally reached $45,197. Following are the other donations and their donors (online donations are subject to a 3.2 percent PayPal fee):

Wilbert Precast Inc., of Spokane, and its employees gave $3,000. “We at Wilbert Precast understand that the money raised through your fund goes directly to the needs of the people in this community without a lot of overhead to support the cause. The employees and the company applaud The Spokesman-Review for taking on the cause and giving us an outlet to support with our many blessings,” wrote company president Dan Houk.

Kimmel Athletic Supply, of Spokane, donated $2,600. An anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $2,000.

Julie Shiflett, of Spokane, donated $1,941.70 via PayPal.

Divcon Inc., of Spokane, and its employees, donated $1,150. “Please accept the $1,150 from Divcon and the following employees: L.J. Anderson, Donald Hagreen, Jerry Johnson, John Miller, Angela Steele and Homer Tollenaere,” wrote Divcon secretary/treasurer Susan Miller.

The Sheffels Company, of Wilbur, Wash., gave $1,000, “in thanks for the first decent wheat price in over 30 years.”

James McNeill, of Spokane, donated $1,000, as did Ray Turf Farms, and Manito Family Dentistry, both of Spokane; and an anonymous donor, of Liberty Lake. Commercial Grading Inc., of Otis Orchards, sent $1,000, as did John, Kristi, Kerry and Sully Blake, of Spokane; and an anonymous donor, also of Spokane.

Edge Construction Supply, of Spokane, also sent $1,000. “We do this instead of mailing Christmas cards and gifts. We know that cards and gifts are soon forgotten, but the warm feeling received from helping others lasts forever,” wrote CEO Eric Grabowski.

Randal DeFelice donated $970.70 via PayPal.

L&M Truck Sales Inc., which also donated services to the Christmas Bureau, sent $750. “On behalf of the employees of L&M Truck Sales, in memory of company founders Marvin D. Littell and Lonnie Shaw, we wish to contribute $750 to the Christmas Fund,” wrote the employees.

Donors sent $700 “in the light of Dad and Mom’s generous giving spirit that inspires us, your seven Ds.”

Anonymous donors, of Spokane, sent $625, “in memory of their lost loved ones.”

Insulation Specialists Inc., of Spokane Valley, donated $500, as did Anderson Mraz Design, of Spokane; and an anonymous donor, also of Spokane.

Dentist Dave Petersen and his staff, of Spokane, sent $500. “Please accept this gift in honor of our many cherished patients,” Petersen wrote.

An anonymous donor, of Spokane, donated $500 in honor of his friends – Jerry, Lorrie, Jim, Melanie, Pam, Louise, Luci and Carl. “They helped me get through another year. And thank God for the blessings he bestowed on me again this year,” he wrote.

Erica, Sarah and Trevor Ashenbrener, of Spokane, donated $500, “with hopes that it will help brighten Christmas for our Spokane neighbors.”

Georgene Patten, Barbara and Kelly Cunningham, Herb and Kathleen Patten, and Rich Patten sent $500 and a note: “Each December, my husband, Les Patten, made a donation to the Christmas Fund. Les preferred giving in lieu of receiving gifts because he believed that our lives had truly been blessed and we had a responsibility to share those blessings with others. This donation is in memory of Les Patten, Chuck Moffatt, and Donna Hanson. The legacy of Donna Hanson continues to inspire us to make a difference. Thank you for giving Les’ family the opportunity to continue this commitment and honor his legacy of giving.”

Merit Electric, of Spokane, donated $500, as did an anonymous donor, of Liberty Lake.

Reta Wilhite, of Spokane, donated $400 in memory of her husband, Claud. “Hope it will make some other families have a merry Christmas,” she wrote.

An anonymous donor, also of Spokane, donated $400. Another anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $350.

William and Nancy Henry, of Spokane, donated $300 in memory of their parents, Bo and Mary Henry and Robert and Marian Heglar.

Karen Nichols, of Spokane, donated $300, as did an anonymous donor, also of Spokane. Betty Carroll, of Spokane Valley, donated $300 in memory of “all her family who are no longer here, but they all supported the charities when they were alive.”

Bob and Judy Lee, of Spokane, gave $300 in memory of their grandson Austin McKenzie; mother, Catherine Lee; and father, Ken Smith.

Lila and George Girvin, of Spokane, donated $291 via PayPal.

Daniel Petek, of Spokane, donated $250, as did Jeff Clausen of Blue Dog Marketing, Keith and Kathleen MacKenzie, Barbara Augusta, and the Domineys, all of Spokane. Gary and Shirley Branson, of Liberty Lake, also donated $250.

Donald Head, of Spokane, brought in a note and $200 donation: “Another year of freedom. Sixty-three years ago, on Dec. 9, 1944, I was captured by the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge. For the next five days we were herded into boxcars and traveled to our first POW camp without food or water. On Christmas Day, I had my first drink of water in that time. Needless to say, I am happy to be here and share this with the good work you do.”

Norm and Rowena Fredekind, of Spokane, donated $200, as did the Swedish-American organization VASA-North Star Lodge No. 145, of Spokane; Dennis and Bonnie Hughes, of Deer Park; Larry and Geri Comstock, of Colbert; Michael and Anne Betow, E. Dawes and Mary Kay Eddy, Mrs. and Mrs. Wray Farmin, and an anonymous donor, all of Spokane.

Albert Materi, of Spokane, sent $200 in memory of his mother, Josephine, “who was with us for almost 105 years.” Richard and Angela Young, of Spokane, donated $200 in memory of Ken Trent.

The Order Sons of Italy in America, American-Italian Lodge No. 2172, of Spokane, sent $200 and a note: “We officers and members of the American-Italian Club are thankful for our heritage and the opportunities we have had living and working in this community. The donation is one of the ways we are saying thanks. It gives us comfort to know we are helping those less fortunate.,” wrote club president Nick Compogno.

Boehm’s Chocolates and Flowers, of Spokane, donated $200, as did an anonymous donor, of Spirit Lake, Idaho; and an anonymous donor, of Spokane.

Skip and Dottie Larson, of Spokane, donated $200 in memory of their families.

Lois Snider, of Spokane, gave $200 in memory of her friend Thor H. Kiilsgaard, a past post commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 51. “He donated much to help the less fortunate during his lifetime,” she wrote.

The Spokane County Highway Department Employees Local No. 1135 sent $200 and a note: “Our union has traditionally held a turkey raffle during our last union meeting before Christmas, during which we give away 10 $20 gift certificates to the membership. This year the executive board and members felt it was more appropriate to donate the money to the needy families of Spokane,” wrote Local 1135 secretary Tim Wink.

Steven Hong, of Spokane, donated $193.90 via PayPal.

David and Kay Stoltz, of Spokane, donated $150, as did Donald Fitzgerald, also of Spokane.

Bob Kowal, of Spokane, sent $125 and a note: “I challenge all teachers and retired teachers to donate one day’s pay to the fund.” An anonymous donor, of Cheney, also gave $125.

Merle and Dolores Gilmore, of Spokane Valley, donated $120.

Ed and Carol Goss, of Spokane, gave $101 in honor of their friends Cyndee Northrop, Gerry Parsons, and Phyllis Northrop, “who have spent their lives doing nice things for other people.”

John and Marcia Magnuson, of Spokane, donated $100 in memory of their parents, Bernice Kienholz and Dr. Richard F. Miller.

In lieu of Christmas gifts to their customers, Questar Marketing Inc., and Mark and Jessie Bekken, of Spokane, donated $100 on their behalf.

Lorraine Krank, of Otis Orchards, donated $100, as did Larry and Diana Helmer, of Colbert; John Sayles, Bruce and Kristin Bushman, Jim and Gay Bech, Susan Hales and Larry Luton, Wallace Bostwick, and Don and Vicki Gorder, all of Spokane.

Dick and Donita Day, of Spokane, gave $100, as did Carrie Prentice, and an anonymous donor, both of Spokane; an anonymous donor, of Veradale; an anonymous donor, of Mead; and an anonymous donor, of Spokane, in memory of Jack Heimbigner. Peter and Charlotte Yocoms, of Cheney, gave $100, as did Bob and Dorothy Yoke, of Spirit Lake, Idaho; and an anonymous donor, of Spokane, in honor of Dorothy and Blanche, and in memory of Noel and Morris.

Scott and Connie Brunell, of Spangle, donated $100, as did Gary and Susan Bloom, James and Barbara Groves, Ron Kusler Services, James Connelly, and three anonymous donors, all of Spokane.

Richard and Burma Williams, of Pullman, donated $100, as did Harris Properties, of Spokane Valley.

Johanna Moore, of Liberty Lake, donated $96.80 via PayPal.

Michael and Konni Dietz, of Mead, donated $75, as did Trisha Kissler, of Spokane; Cathleen Walter, of Otis Orchards; and Denise Mutschler, of Cheney.

John and June Sine, of Spokane, donated $70 in honor of their grandchildren, Riley, Brock, Bryndon, Olivea, Thomas, Braxton and Jyoti.

Timothy and Kathi Cramer, of Athol, Idaho, donated $50, as did Paul and Elizabeth Kennar, Will and Edna Karjalahti, and three anonymous donors, all of Spokane; and an anonymous donor, of Cheney.

Eight-year-old Hailey Poutiatine sent $47 and a note: “This money was saved in my allowance. I wanted to send it to the Christmas Fund so that all kids will have a Merry Christmas, which is exactly what I want.”

A note accompanied donations by Josh Morrow, of Medical Lake, who gave $40.50, and Ryan Doffek, also of Medical Lake, who gave $24.30: “This is money that was saved by them for the last six months from their weekly salaries. We appreciate all that the Christmas Bureau accomplishes during the Christmas season.”

The Washington Trust Bank Commercial Banking Division donated $35 – one of 15 donations to local charities from the proceeds of a silent auction.

An anonymous donor gave $31.

“Vitaly” brought $30 to the newspaper.

Irene Leikauf, of Nine Mile Falls, donated $25, as did Gary and Jane Graham; the Thompson family; William Collins; Shaun, Anita and Tyler Kelsey; and John and Norma Porter, all of Spokane; and Patrick and Laurie Ferrell, of Mead.

PSE donated $28.83 via PayPal.

Joe Manning, of Los Angeles, donated $20 on behalf of his students at St. Malachy School. “Your fund has been shared with my students as a wonderful example of promoting solidarity with others,” wrote Manning, a Gonzaga University alum. “Please continue the great work of helping children and their families in this Christmas season.”

An anonymous donor, of Spokane, gave $20.