Christmas Bureau eases strapped parents’ stress

Jennifer Taylor first heard about the Christmas Bureau in 1997. As a newly single mom with a 3-year-old and a baby, she’d just moved back to Spokane and was struggling to find a job, housing and the foundation for a new life.

Her aunt took her to the Christmas Bureau, where needy families can select one book and one gift for each child and receive a small food voucher to help with a holiday meal. The charity is a philanthropic partnership of The Spokesman-Review, Catholic Charities and Volunteers of America, staffed by volunteers and funded by reader donations.

This season it needs to raise $525,000 to serve almost 10,000 families who are struggling to make ends meet, let alone purchase presents for their children.

“Other than the long line, I remember people being really nice, helping me with where to go and what to do. It was a big help. I was by myself,” recalled Taylor. “For my peace of mind, it helped. After that I was able to get stabilized.”

Over the next 17 years Taylor married, had more children and managed tight times without needing Christmas aid.

“If I don’t need the help, then I feel there are other people that need it more. If I’m not totally desperate, I’m not going to sign up,” she said, adding, “This year things got tighter than we thought.”

Her oldest no longer lives with them, but Taylor and her husband have two teens and a 6- and 7-year-old at home.

Normally, she said, they’ve been able to make do on her husband’s income as a self-employed cabinetmaker by saving when work is plentiful to cover the times it’s not.

“We have what I call my saving envelope. We’ll take a quarter of what he gets paid and put it away. A lot of times it goes to necessities, like toilet paper. And I buy the bigger bulk stuff, to save and stretch the dollar,” she said.

The family also goes without Internet service and cable television and for several years opted to take the bus or get rides from family rather than own a car.

After almost three years of saving, this year they finally had enough to buy a car. Then a medical emergency put Taylor’s husband out of commission for work for a time; since then, his fluctuating workload hasn’t been enough to make up the gap and still pay for Christmas.

“This year is tighter than most years. We go day by day and deal with what life is. We’ve had hard times before. We’ll get through it again,” Taylor said. “We’re blessed. We have a roof over our head. We have our family.”

They also have a community that cares, that gives to ensure children like hers still have something to open on Christmas.

“There is still kindness and people willing to take their time to help people. There are still people that have that caring for other people,” she said of the volunteers and donors who are taking the stress out of providing a Christmas for her children. “Thank you.”

New donations

Kristianne Blake, of Spokane, gave $2,500.

Scott and Shannon Sevigny, of Spokane, gave $1,000.

Gail and Roberta Keeling, of Otis Orchards, gave $800 in honor of their three grandsons, Taylor Merkley, 18, Kolby Keeling, 10, and Ryan Keeling, 9. “Another holiday season and so many in need of help,” they wrote. “Wishing everyone food, warmth and a package under the tree.”

George Sullivan, of Colbert, gave $500.

Harold and Sharon Cathcart, of Colbert, gave $500, as did Sean and Gretchen Lasalle, of Spokane.

Keith and Kathleen Mackenzie, of Spokane, gave $500. “Kathleen and I are thankful for the gifts we receive and the opportunity to give to the community,” Keith wrote.

The Assistants, a nonprofit serving Spokane since 1961, gave $500, sending their “sincere appreciation and thanks for all you do for our community during the Christmas season.”

Debra and Bruce Howard, of Spokane, gave $250, as did Orval and Anita Janssen.

An anonymous Lamont, Wash., donor gave $200.

Jim and Dixie Moore, of Mead, gave $150. “Hope this will help bring Christmas joy to others,” they wrote.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $150. “Thanks to all of you who work so hard. Merry Christmas!” they wrote.

Janice Eastman, of Spokane Valley, gave $150.

Raymond Zimmerman, of Spokane, gave $121.07 via PayPal.

Steve and Nancy Kiss, of Metaline, Wash.,, gave $100.

Spokane donors giving $100 include Harold and Leona Dexter, Jim and Jackie Vroman, Melanie and Harley Reckord, and Harold E. Wilson, who wrote, “Merry Christmas to all! I hope we have another great year for the Christmas Fund!”

An anonymous Spokane Valley donor gave $100.

Barbara Lien, of Spokane Valley, gave $100 via PayPal in memory of Brian Gavin.

Spokane Valley donors giving $100 include John, Judy and Willie Beck, Richard and Zella Novotney, and Carol and Bob Lingow, who gave in memory of their daughter Carrie.

An anonymous Veradale donor gave $100.

Lawrence Luton, of Spokane, gave $96.80 via PayPal.

Steve, Gail and Ben Quaid, of Colbert, gave $50.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $50 in memory of her parents, John and Emma Peereboom.

Nancy and Roger Moore, of Spokane, gave $50.

Janet Culbertson, of Spokane, gave $49.22 via PayPal, writing, “As a volunteer at the Bureau, I see firsthand the difference this makes for families who need a little help. Every penny counts.”

Margaret Burke, of Spokane, gave $48.25 via PayPal.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $30.

An anonymous Liberty Lake donor gave $25.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $20.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $10 in cash, writing “I wish it could be more.”