Christmas Fund meets goal for 11th year in a row

As Dec. 25 celebrations fade into memories and turn toward New Year’s cheer, the Christmas Bureau has made its fundraising goal for the 11th year in a row.

In fact, 31 contributors just after Christmas Eve pushed the fund above the $525,000 target by a comfortable $1,172. Overall, more than 1,200 contributors gave to the bureau, which each Christmastime provides gifts, books and food vouchers for less fortunate families.

The 2015 donations ranged from $2 cash to a $35,000 check, raising a total of $526,172.65.

“It’s another Christmas miracle,” said Marilee Roloff, CEO of Volunteers of America, which helps organize the bureau with Catholic Charities and The Spokesman-Review. “I never worry about the total. I know this community will step up.”

Roloff will retire from Volunteers of America by next summer, but she’ll continue as a volunteer buying books for the Christmas Bureau and distributing them. She’s already bought some children’s books at post-Christmas discounts for 2016, she said.

The community’s donations help pay off bills from this season and give a start toward 2016’s Christmas Bureau. Organizers start early to gain maximum discounts on quality gifts and books.

This year, the bureau helped fewer people than anticipated, with the numbers down by about 10 percent compared with 2014 bureau figures. Still, families this year arrived in steady flows during the nine days the bureau ran, Dec. 10-19.

Judy Lee, bureau coordinator, said this year’s bureau served 8,142 households, which received food vouchers ranging from $15 to $30. The bureau distributed gifts for 14,583 children and served 27,410 individuals overall. That compares with 2014 totals of 9,111 households, 15,783 gifts and 30,208 people served.

With fewer households seeking crisis-level support for 2015, Catholic Charities Executive Director Rob McCann said the difference could be an indicator that at least this year, more families in the area are experiencing better job and financial stability.

Many of the recipients who did arrive, however, described barely getting by on a fixed income or had household budgets stretched thin during winter months.

“It’s a great benefit to the community,” said McCann, also crediting The Spokesman-Review’s role since starting the Christmas Fund 70 years ago. “I don’t think there is any community that’s done this as long as Spokane.”

New donations

Davidson Family LLC, of Spokane, gave $5,000 “from Darin, Mia, Michael, Maggie, Joey and Molly Davidson.”

Keith and Jane Slater, of Spokane, donated $1,500.

The Gadd-McBurney Family, of Spokane, gave $825.

Acme Concrete Paving Inc., of Spokane, gave $600.

Evergreen Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, of Spokane Valley, gave $500.

Nancy Evans and Gregory MacDonald, of Spokane, gave $500 “in support of the services you provide to the disadvantaged adults and children in the Spokane area during the Christmas season … thank you for the kindness you show to those who need it most.”

Nancy Edwards, of Spokane, gave $300.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $300 “in memory of my mother Alta. She believed every child should have a Christmas present and could only afford the dollar store but bought for about 50. Keep doing the magic for the children.”

Bruce Howard, of Spokane, contributed $250 via PayPal.

Dick and Lola (Houx) Lile, of Spokane, gave $200 “in memory of my parents Robert and Ellen Houx, and Dorothy R. Powers.”

Martha and Ronald Race, of Lacey, Wash., gave $200 in memory of Paula J. Campbell.

Rich Wagoner, of Spokane, gave $100, which was matched by a $100 donation by his employer, Garco Construction Inc.

Mike and Tambra Vlahovich, of Spokane Valley, gave $100.

John Tiffany, of Spokane Valley, gave $100.

Spokane donors of $100 included Ralph and Catherine Coston, Dan Crittenden, Harold Vanderpool (via PayPal), and an anonymous person.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $100 “in memory of Spokane policeman Jim Hough.”

Another anonymous Spokane donor gave $100, writing, “Blessings to all who make this wonderful endeavor possible.”

Blaine Krebs, of Colbert, gave $100.

Bob and Carol Waddell, of Spokane, gave $60 “in memory of Kathy Bartch and Russell and Dorothy Waddell.”

Steven and Beverly Chandler; H. Douglas Spruance III and Carol Brown Spruance; and Deborah Water, all of Spokane, each gave $50.

Spokane donors of $25 included Elizabeth Kawakani, Tara Hamm, Deidra Saba (via PayPal), and Edwin Saari, who wrote, “Thank you for all you do. And because someone paid for our Starbucks, so we are paying it forward.”

An anonymous donor gave $20 cash.

An anonymous donor gave $15 cash.

The Spokesman-Review contributes the processing fee on donations made through PayPal.