Woman’s ‘giving heart,’ hands provide knitted hats for Christmas Bureau

For one Spokane resident, giving back to her community is a part of who she is.

The 85-year-old woman knit and donated 110 hats to the Christmas Bureau, which provides assistance to families and individuals in need during the holidays. The hats will be bundled with new winter gloves that recipients without children receive at the Bureau.

“Sharing has been a big part of my life,” the woman said. “I just have a giving heart.”

The woman didn’t want to be identified because, as a Christian, she didn’t want to boast about her good deed.

“God knows what I’ve done,” she said.

But she agreed to tell her story with the hope that others might be inspired to do what they can to spread goodwill.

“Help your neighbors; help your friends,” she said. “Be kind.”

She isn’t in good health and has to use a motorized scooter at the grocery store. Strangers never hesitate to walk around the grocery store with her to assist in getting items that are out of reach.

“People help me a great deal, so I just want to return some kindness,” she said. “People in Spokane are so kind.”

She used to make quilts to donate but can’t anymore because of her health, so she switched to knitting.

“I just sat here and knitted and knitted and knitted, and I’m still kitting,” she said.

She said she can knit a hat a day and eventually had 110 to donate to the bureau, which is organized by Catholic Charities Spokane and Volunteers of America.

“I just pray that the people that get my hats will love them as much as I have enjoyed making them,” she said.

Judy Lee, special event coordinator with Catholic Charities Spokane, said they don’t usually take such donations, but the hats are high-quality and pair well with gloves.

“They’re amazing-looking hats,” Lee said. “Even though it’s a more limited number of items, I think the people that receive will just love them. Who wouldn’t like a nice, handmade knit cap to keep them cozy this time of year?”

In 2015, the Christmas Bureau served 27,410 individuals struggling during the holiday season, providing new toys, books, grocery store gift certificates and a little cheer.

Donations by generous community members to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund make it possible year after year.

Organizers have a goal of raising $525,000 this year. They have $445,046.62 left to go, but for those who can and want to give, there’s still time to donate.

New donations

Evergreen Cosmetic & Family Dentistry gave $500, writing, “We at Evergreen Cosmetic & Family Dentistry have been very fortunate this year and appreciate the opportunity provided to us by the Christmas Bureau to give back to the community. We would also like to say thank you to all the volunteers that give their time to make this possible.”

Stephen Scott, of Spokane, gave $350.

Donna Roloff gave $110.

Delores Crabtree, of Spokane, gave $100.

Jerry Robinson gave $100.

For donations made through PayPal, The Spokesman-Review contributed the processing fee.