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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Restaurant crews give to Christmas Fund with a smile

Gage Lee, a 24-year veteran server at Frank’s Diner, has been donating to the Christmas Bureau through her paychecks for many years. (Jesse Tinsley)

When Gage Lee serves customers at Frank’s Diner in downtown Spokane, it’s obvious why she’s won awards for excellent service. She’s quick and capable, taking orders and refilling cups of coffee, with every move accompanied by a genuine smile. She clearly cares about her customers.

She also cares about her community. Along with most of the crews at Frank’s Diners and The Onion restaurants, Lee contributes part of every paycheck to make a difference for Spokane’s needy families.

This year the staff from the four eateries raised $3,050 for the Christmas Bureau. Owners Ken and Christy Belisle and Larry and Jan Brown matched that amount for a total of $6,100, helping the fund toward its $525,000 goal.

At the Christmas Bureau, less-fortunate families can select a toy for each child, a book for each child through age 14 and receive a $15 to $30 food voucher to buy fixings for a holiday meal. The charity, which is organized by Volunteers of America, Catholic Charities and The Spokesman-Review, served 9,218 households last year, who reported an average income of $1,168 per month.

“There are people who aren’t as lucky. This time of year can be very hard,” Lee said of her decision to donate from her paycheck for the 24 years she’s worked at Frank’s Diner. “Customers give to us and we give it back and pay it forward. If people know someone cares about them, it makes a difference.”

Ken Belisle said that though restaurant workers don’t tend to make a lot of money, almost every one of their 160 employees chose to contribute through voluntary payroll deductions, usually a few dollars each pay period.

In addition to their Christmas Bureau donation, employees also raised $3,200 that will be divided among 30 other local agencies that help low-income or homeless people.

Giving this way has been a company tradition for 36 years.

“The crew did a great job. It’s not easy to make a living out there. You take a dishwasher or a server, $50 to $60 a year is a lot of money to them,” said Belisle, adding that he’s proud of his employees for wanting to make a difference.

“It’s personal for me. It’s personal for that dishwasher or bus person … For a dollar or two dollars every paycheck, we’re able to give $6,000 as a company. It’s more powerful,” he said. “All of us want to see Spokane be as good as it can be for everyone. It’s important to take care of our citizens and our community.”

Between now and Christmas, the charity needs to raise another $483,634 to pay for the books, toys and food vouchers that will be distributed from Dec. 10-19.

New donations

Crew members and owners of Franks Diners and The Onion Restaurants donated $6,100; $3,050 came from voluntary employee payroll deductions with a matching contribution by the owners, Ken and Christy Belisle and Larry and Jan Brown.

Marge Boyles, of Spokane, gave $50, as did Jeffrey and Judy Koons, of Spokane Valley.

Thomas Hill, of Spokane, gave $48.25 via PayPal.

Dalton and Karen Jassman, of Spokane, gave $30.