Mother, daughter make tradition of volunteering
Traditions run deep for a mother-daughter duo who volunteer as a team at the Christmas Bureau. For four years, they’ve freed time around family schedules so they could work at the event together.
Joye Gill, 62, and her daughter, Gwendolyn Warnica, 40, always sign up for the same job and shift, and this year they worked in the toy room.
“I just really wanted to share this with my mom,” said Warnica, who heard her mom talk about volunteering at the bureau years ago. “It’s such a worthy charity. I look at it as a special thing we do together, a tradition. My children want to do it when they’re older.”
The bureau closed Saturday, ending after nine days of operations that served 27,410 people in need. They received gifts, books and food vouchers. The charity served more than 8,000 low-income households in the Spokane area.
Gill, who began working at the bureau eight years ago, said it’s fun to introduce her daughter to others at the event. During the year, the two often meet up to take kids to movies and sporting events. They also have a tradition of going together for Mother’s Day pedicures.
Although they separately help in the community, the bureau is the one volunteer role they do together.
“It’s a very special thing for us,” Gill said. “We do it because we both feel we are very blessed in our everyday life.”
While guiding adults to different toys appropriate for various ages, Gill described that this year she helped some grandfathers select toys for their grandkids who live with them. Gill and her husband, Lloyd, have six of their own grandchildren.
“I liked helping the grandpas pick out presents,” she said. “I think that would be hard. I know I helped at least two grandfathers, and for one, we found a good baby doll for his 2-year-old granddaughter.”
Gill and her daughter’s volunteering have inspired their family beyond the desire to serve. Warnica’s 10-year-old son Noah recently gave $25 of his own money to the bureau after hearing the family discuss the charity.
“He just wanted to make sure other kids had presents,” Warnica said.
Because of such contributions from Noah and other donors, the Christmas Bureau is able to provide toys to more than 14,683 children. Donations large and small are filling in the gap this year toward the bureau’s fundraising goal of $525,000.
New donations
John Altberg, of Spokane, gave $500 via PayPal, writing “in lieu of Christmas gifts to my clients, I am once again donating to the bureau to help those in need within our community.”
Robert Fromm, of Chattaroy, donated $252.
Beverly Honeycutt, of Spokane Valley, gave $200 “in memory of my husband Bill J. Honeycutt.”
Dallas and Corrine Dixon, an anonymous donor, and Scott Schell, all of Spokane, each gave $200.
Another anonymous Spokane donor gave $200. “To Spokesman-Review, thank you for sponsoring and giving visibility to the generosity of Spokane, its neighboring communities, and others with ties to our area.”
Edward Honodel, of Otis Orchards, gave $200 via PayPal.
Burt Akehurst and Linda Drake gave $175, “in loving memory of their parents Marge and Lyall.”
The Vinje sisters gave $165, an annual donation from these Spokane high school graduates who live in Seattle: Prasti Vinje Purdum and Astrid Vinje (Bush), and Michelle Vinje (Petty).
H.L. Kirkpatrick, of Spokane, gave $150 “in memory of my wife Maureen.”
An anonymous Spokane donor gave $101.
Darin and Mary Solberg, of Veradale, gave $100 via PayPal, writing, “Thank you for all you do for those less fortunate this time of year! God Bless.”
Marion Moos, of Spokane, gave $100 with the note, “All for one and one for all. My pleasure.”
Stephen and Debra Piper, of Spokane, gave $100, as did Robert and Marilyn Laugen, also of Spokane.
Ann and Don Foss, of Spokane, gave $100 and acknowledged bureau volunteers. “Why do we give? ’Tis the season; for the right reason; and makes us happy.”
Bertha Jayne gave $100, as did Judith Flowers, both of Spokane, via PayPal.
Mary Cannon, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $100, writing, “A huge thanks to the Christmas Bureau for helping out those in need.”
Jim and Marlene McBride, of Nine Mile Falls, gave $100. “Thanks for all the caring and sharing you do for the community.”
Paddy and Teri Inman, of Mead, gave $100. “We continue to be amazed at the tremendous generosity of the Spokane community as it supports the Christmas Bureau and brings so much joy to so many every year.”
Norma J. Tillotson, of Hoquiam, Wash., sent $100 cash, writing that her 11-year-old granddaughter, Hollie Tillotson, moved with her from Spokane in August 2014 but still follows Spokane news closely. “She asked if we could send money to the Christmas Fund, even though we don’t live there anymore. We are happy to be able to contribute, and we are very grateful for our good fortune. We wish the same good fortune to the recipients of the Christmas Fund.”
Don and Vicki Gorder, of Buckeye, Arizona, gave $100.
An anonymous Mead donor gave $75.
James and Helen Skindlov, of Spokane Valley, gave $50, as did John Hartung, also of Spokane Valley.
Joan and Kerry Orcutt, of Spokane Valley, donated $50. “Many thanks for all you do to help so many families have a Merry Christmas.”
Irma Cleveland, Inga Boyles, two separate anonymous donors, and Jennifer Niles, all of Spokane, each gave $50.
An anonymous Spokane donor sent $30, writing, “Thanks to all who make the season better for so many.”
Linda Ellis, of Veradale, gave $25 “in honor of our three grandchildren Jordan, Olivia and Henry.”
Zane Bower, of Spokane, gave $25.
Deborah Carpenter, of Colbert, gave $25 via PayPal.
An anonymous donor dropped off $20 cash in memory of bureau volunteer Larry Ferderer.
An anonymous donor gave $20.
The Spokesman-Review contributes the processing fee on donations made through PayPal.