Bureau visitors focus on family’s blessings
While waiting in line at the Christmas Bureau, Diane Pippin shares a smile with her daughter Lily, 13, who came to help pick out presents for her siblings. They’ve had tough times but they’re focused on family.
The Christmas Bureau gave toys, books and food vouchers to 9,111 needy families this year, continuing a 69-year Spokane tradition of Christmas compassion that’s funded by donations. So far this season it’s raised about 63 percent of the $525,000 needed to help recipients who are struggling to provide holiday gifts.
In 2011, when Pippin, 29, received a letter from DSHS that a relative’s child needed foster care placement, she thought it was a mistake.
“I called because I thought they had the wrong person. When they told me who it was, I thought ‘Gosh, this is a mom I looked up to as a child, thinking I wanted to be like her,’ ” said Pippin, describing how, as a teen, she’d loved baby-sitting her cousin’s baby girl, Lily. Then the families lost touch.
During that phone call and subsequent home visit, Pippin said she learned that when Lily was 8 she’d been placed in foster care due to her parents’ drug use and abuse. Over the next two years she lived in 15 foster homes.
“I had two kids of my own. I couldn’t imagine going through that with any kid. It pushed me to want to help,” Pippin said, recounting how social workers discussed Lily’s struggles with anger, aggression and self-hurtful behavior, a preteen who had learned to mistrust the adults in her life.
“We went and met her that night with a family visitation and she came home with us. We’ve had her since,” Pippin said. Soon after, they took in Lily’s little sister and adopted both girls four months later.
“We celebrate November 16, national adoption day, like it’s a birthday,” Pippin said. As a mom, she’s proud of the progress Lily has made in three years, though trusting adults is still difficult for her daughter.
“When she first came she was an angry young girl. She felt like she wasn’t worth being loved,” said Pippin, who stresses to her daughter that it’s not her fault, that she deserves love, that she is loved, and that she’s proud of her.
“She’s grown so much as a person,” said Pippin, describing how Lily was behind in school, because she missed so much, but is now at grade level, earning A’s and awards for good character.
“She’s so open and loving and wanting to help everybody. The transformation is such a dramatic change,” Pippin said. “She was not the huggy, ‘let’s talk’ type. Now she can’t get enough hugs and kisses.”
The affection between the mother-daughter duo was clear as they carefully selected gifts for Kaycee, 7, Vivy, 5, Quentin, 5, and Cerenity, 2.
Affording presents was almost impossible for the family. Pippin’s husband isn’t medically cleared to work due to uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes. Her 2-year-old had her fifth surgery last month to correct problems related to a premature birth.
And though Pippin has a new job at an assisted living facility, for most of the last year she took care of her sister-in-law, Catherine Biotti, who was battling the end stages of a painful congenital disease that causes disintegration of the cerebellum, gradually destroying motor control, balance, sight and other basic functions.
Biotti died last week at age 26.
In the midst of her grief, Pippin is focused on family. It was worth the wait at the Christmas Bureau to pick out presents with her daughter.
“It’s there to help people like me, and people who have less than I do,” Pippin said of the charity event. “I have income, but I still struggle. I’m a working-class mom with five kids. I benefit because it gives my kids something to look forward to at the holidays.”
Pippin also is looking forward to the holiday. She’ll be working Christmas morning but has family time planned, continuing a simple tradition her mom started years ago. With the family gathered around the tree, each member puts on a bow with their name on it.
“We’ll all come here, siblings, spouses and kids. We’ll find our bow and put it on the tree,” she said. “It’s a sentimental thing of coming together as a family.”
New donations
The doctors and staff at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, of Spokane, gave $12,000.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to again express our support and gratitude to the Spokane community,” wrote President Patrick S. Lynch Jr., M.D. “We’re so appreciative of the admirable work done by the Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund, and we are honored to be able to contribute to your efforts to give to those in need this holiday season. Thank you for continuing to inspire others and us by sharing what we believe truly makes the holiday season special.”
The Delbert Spear family, of Spokane, gave $1,000. “We are so thankful to pass our blessing on to those in need. This is the true meaning of Christmas,” they wrote.
Ed and Lynn Van Vliet, of Spokane, gave $500 in memory of Mary Nellenbach Clements. “We give thanks during the Christmas season for our many blessings and appreciate what the Christmas Bureau can do to help so many people in need,” they wrote.
Barbara and Larry Tobin, of Spokane, gave $300, as did Michael and Linda Geraghty.
Judy and Bob Lee, of Spokane, gave $300 in memory of their grandson, Austin McKenzie, parents, Ken and Alice Smith, and mother, Catherine Lee.
Dennis Hughes, of Deer Park, gave $250.
An anonymous Spokane donor gave $250 “to help our neighbors in need at this time of year and a big thank you to all of the volunteers,” they wrote.
Janice Davis, of Rockford, gave $200 in memory of her husband, Don, “who would give the shirt off his back to someone and did many times. You do so much for so many,” she wrote.
Lola and Richard Lile, of Spokane, gave $200 in honor of Dorothy R. Powers, “who wrote passionately for the families of Spokane,” and in memory of Ellen and Robert Houx.
Lolyta and Larry Hatch, of Spokane, gave $200.
Douglas and Joan Menzies, of Spokane, gave $150.
Larry and Diana Helmer, of Colbert, gave $100.
Spokane donors giving $100 include Joyce and Jerry Fielding, Rhonda Krauss, Walt and Cynda Adams, Richard and Karen Steele, and two anonymous donors.
Anita Cole, of Spokane, gave $100 “in memory of Robert W. Cole who loved decorating and giving at Christmas and our little grandson, Michael, who only enjoyed two Christmases. Thanks for all you do and all the volunteers,” she wrote.
Daniel and Annette Simonson, of Spokane, gave $100 in memory of Christine, Stewart, Mary Jane, Kent, and Dorothy Simonson.
Linda Spurlin, of Spokane Valley, gave $100, as did an anonymous donor.
Thomas and Rebecca Hochwalt, of Chewelah, gave $50.
W.T. and Charlotte Ardiss, of Spokane, gave $50, as did an anonymous Spokane donor.
Russ and Mary Rowley, of Spokane, gave $50. “We have been once, long ago on the receiving end of the bureau. We now volunteer and donate. What a great feeling,” they wrote.
Tom and Betsy Murphy, of Spokane, gave $50 “in thanksgiving for our blended families and a successful brain surgery for our son and good health of our other sons, daughter and daughter-in-law and our grandkids. We are very thankful,” they wrote.
Lois Connery, of Spokane Valley, gave $50.
An anonymous Spokane donor gave $35.
Dave and Brenda Frederick, of Medical Lake, gave $30.
Paul Lundy, of Spokane, gave $25.
Fred Grey, of Spokane, gave $20.
An anonymous Spokane Valley donor gave $20. “I have been so very blessed each year. It’s wonderful to give to the Christmas Bureau. God’s blessings to all,” they wrote.
Linda Guiher, of Spokane Valley, gave $20.
Norma and Cecil Loveland, of Spokane, gave $10, as did an anonymous donor.