Volunteers checking toy safety

News in August of the recall of dozens of toys made in China got the attention of Christmas Bureau volunteers Judy Thies and Janelle Kortlever.

In May, the two Spokane women had ordered more than 16,000 toys for the bureau, most of them from Fisher-Price – the company that recalled more than 80 types of Chinese-made toys because their paint contained unacceptable levels of lead.

Thies and Kortlever had a list of toys that they had ordered, but it’s not unusual for the shipments to contain different toys from those ordered. So the two toy buyers have been busy opening boxes and comparing the toys with the recall lists.

“Most everything we ordered came in, and nothing was on the recall list,” Kortlever said Monday at the toy warehouse.

Should they find toys that were recalled, they could return them to Fisher-Price in exchange for similar toys.

The toys will be given to needy children beginning Dec. 8 when the Christmas Bureau opens at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

Kortlever said they simply want to ensure all the toys distributed at the bureau are safe.

Donations to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund pay for the toys, as well as the grocery store vouchers given to needy families for a holiday dinner.

Donors have given $2,380 more to the fund, bringing the total to $19,797.55. The goal is $485,000, the amount that bureau organizers estimate will be needed to give the fixings of Christmas to about 10,000 poor families. Donations of all amounts are welcome.

Following are the donors and their donations:

William Roberts, of Spokane, sent $500 in memory of his wife, Virginia Bacon Roberts. “Early on, she espoused the Christmas Fund, and gave religiously. I would like to carry on her wishes and continue to support the fund in her name,” wrote Roberts.

An anonymous donor, of Spokane, also gave $500.

Karen and Jim Woodworth, of Spokane, donated $200, as did Norman and Sharon Genung, also of Spokane.

Bill Bell, of Spokane Valley, gave $150.

Christina Marino and Phillip Jones, of Spokane, donated $100, as did Pamela Comstock, John and Olwen Bradley, and Otto and Shirley Stevens, all of Spokane; and Jan Darc, of Coeur d’Alene.

Frances Joachim, of Mead, donated $100 in memory of her husband, Milbert.

Albert and Mary Bair, of Spokane, donated $50, as did Eddie Heavner, also of Spokane.

Paul and Chris Swinehart, of Tacoma, sent $35.

Gaylord Thomson, of Spokane, donated $25, as did Edward McCormack, also of Spokane; Ted and Louise Otto, of Cheney; and Jacqueline Eide, of Odessa, Wash.