The line formed early for the Christmas Bureau’s opening day
“I’m especially grateful for this because in the winter, electricity bills are up; I have two kids with birthdays in the winter,” said Hawthorne, who usually has a caregiver job but is temporarily out of work.
“I live paycheck to paycheck. It’s always hard to get stuff for the kids.”
Hawthorne arrived at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center to line up before 4 a.m. for the bureau’s opening several hours later. Her children range in age from 6 to 12.
“It means my kids can actually get a Christmas,” she said. Hawthorne smiled while showing off Spiderman-themed books for two sons, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” for a 10-year-old daughter, and a teen favorite for another daughter, age 12. She selected gifts ranging from a digital music player to a remote control car.
“They don’t have cheap little toys; they’re actually really nice,” Hawthorne said of the Christmas Bureau. “Everyone was so friendly.”
Despite early rainfall, a steady flow of people arrived Thursday morning. More than 100 volunteers guided them to tables for check-in and toward other areas to receive $15 to $30 food vouchers, children’s books and toys.
Employees of the Spokane Public Library and Spokane County Library District also kept busy helping families get library cards.
In the toy room, some of the more popular toys included Pony Royale sets and Razor scooters, along with dolls, trucks and building sets.
Deer Park resident Lorie Nolan was first in line. “I really count on this for my daughter; she’s 17,” Nolan said. “It means everything. If we didn’t have this, we wouldn’t have Christmas.”
Three children waited with their stepfather, Ryan Granlund, while his wife, Lasean Granlund, talked to volunteers. He had never been to the Christmas Bureau before.
“I don’t make a whole bunch of money, I’m a mechanic,” he said. “We’re able to get the necessities like socks, boots, clothes for the kids, but to get some extras, it’s nice that the community gets together to do this for families.
“We’re very grateful.”
Bureau coordinator Judy Lee said the event on Thursday served 1,330 households, which included a total of 4,887 people. Toys were given for 2,748 children. Those numbers nearly match statistics for the first day last year, she said.
The bureau runs until Dec. 19, except for Sunday, and serves more than 9,000 needy families overall who receive the free gifts. Funded by reader donations and staffed with about 400 volunteers, the charity is organized by Catholic Charities, Volunteers of America and The Spokesman-Review.
It needs to raise $525,000 this season.
Last year, 15,783 children received books and toys, and a total 30,208 individuals were served.
Incoming mail with this year’s donations slowed considerably Wednesday and Thursday, likely part of widespread regional mail delays this week following recent damage at a U.S. Postal Service mail storage facility at the Spokane airport.
However, the Christmas Fund has edged to just over $150,000.
Recent donations
Sara Weaver-Lundberg, of Airway Heights, gave $5,000 via PayPal.
Donald Limmer, of Liberty Lake, gave $225.
Jay and Marjean Agather, of Coeur d’Alene, donated $50.
Joann M. Nielsen, of Spokane, gave $50, writing, “Thank you for all that you do to bring a ‘Merry Christmas’ to our community.”
An anonymous donor gave $20 cash.
Note: For donations made through PayPal, The Spokesman-Review contributed the PayPal processing fee.