Christmas Bureau volunteers find the best deals on books

A steady stream of books arrives at Marilee Roloff’s house all year long. She sorts and then puts them in storage until it’s time to give them away at the Christmas Bureau.

Roloff was the longtime CEO of Volunteers of America before she retired in 2016, but she was not prepared to give up volunteering with the Christmas Bureau. She is now the head book-buyer and helps recruit volunteers, many of them retired teachers and librarians, to help parents pick out just the right book for their child.

Like the toy buyers, Roloff and the other book buyers had to worry about tariffs. They did their best to work around it by buying books that were already sitting in U.S. warehouses, since many books are printed in China, she said.

“We tried to find the best deals we could,” she said.

Roloff said she used to be able to buy board books for babies for around a dollar, but she had to find a new supplier this year and now has to pay double what she used to.

After that, it was all about finding books that kids like. Roloff said she got a last-minute deal on 2025 Guiness World Record books.

“Kids love that stuff,” she said. “The weirder, the grosser, the better.”

Then it was off to find books on science, fiction and, of course, dinosaurs. Roloff made sure to buy extra dinosaur books.

“This year we’re not going to run out of dinosaur books, because we always do,” she said.

Roloff and the other book buyers also continue to make it a point to buy books that include characters of a wide variety of ethnicities and religions.

“That’s important to us,” she said.

Some “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and a few Disney princess books later, Roloff said she’s ready for the Christmas Bureau.

“The other thing we did really well on this year is graphic novels,” she said. “Kids love those.”

The Christmas Bureau is a joint effort by Catholic Charities, Volunteers of America and The Spokesman-Review to provide a grocery store voucher for families in need, as well as a toy and a book for each child.

While this year’s book-buying effort was successful, Roloff is already worried about next year.

“We overbought this year in anticipation of next year,” she said. “We know they’re going to go up.”

The downside of stocking up, however, is having to pay more to store the books, Roloff said. But she is just trying her best to make sure there are still plenty of books to go around next year.

“We are worried,” she said.

Donations

New donations of $16,866 have raised the year-to-date total to $104,943.55. The goal is to raise $600,000.

Sara Weaver-Lundberg donated $5,000.

John Barber, of Spokane, sent $1,000. Lou Corones contributed $1,000 via PayPal, as did Peter and Gay Witherspoon.

Scott Sevigny gave $700 via PayPal.

Kathleen Lackie, of Spokane, gave $500. Doreen and Eugene Criswell, of Colbert, gave $500 in honor of their grandchildren. Lee Dominey gave $500 via PayPal, writing, “This year more than ever we need neighbor helping neighbor!” Suzanne and Karl Fleming also donated $500 via PayPal, as did Gerard Fischer.

Kevin Blanchat sent $500 via PayPal, writing, “Happy holidays. Our community is here to support each other. I hope this donation helps make this Christmas a wonderful one for the less fortunate.” Eleanor Lathem contributed $500 via PayPal, writing, “From Ginny and Joan in memory of our parents – Lathem/Reifenberger.”

Bill and Wanda Podobnik donated $300. Anita Indelicato sent $300 via PayPal “in memory of our parents. Thank you for all you do for the community.”

Jill Barville donated $250 via PayPal.

Richard Penna, of Spokane, contributed $200. Mary Stohr and Craig Hemmens, of Spokane, gave $200.

“Thank you for all of your good works on behalf of the people of Spokane,” they wrote.

Dana McPhee and Kenneth Hill each gave $200 via PayPal. Stewart Randall contributed $200 via PayPal, writing, “Big thanks to The Spokesman-Review and volunteers for all your efforts toward others that they may have a Merry Christmas!”

Alan Curryer sent $200 via PayPal, writing, “Merry Christmas to all.”

Rhon and Dee Holm, of Colbert, donated $150. Larry Williams, of Spokane Valley, also sent $150. Brendan Dixon gave $150 via PayPal.

John and Jody Beck sent $100 via PayPal, writing, “Happy holidays to all involved in this awesome community project.” Sheryl Gosser, of Medical Lake, gave $100. Jeffrey and Judy Koons, of Spokane Valley, contributed $100. Gail and Dave DeRoshia gave $100 via PayPal, writing, “Thank you for all that you do to help those in need! Merry Christmas.”

Linda Wirch donated $100 via PayPal “in memory of JoNell Edlin, our sweet friend who made her life about helping others. We love and miss her dearly.” Theresa Schimmels sent $100 via PayPal “in memory of my parents, Gary and Myrna Schimmels.”

James Clanton sent $100 via PayPal, writing, “Our family is very fortunate to have our health and financial stability. We will never take that for granted. We hope this donation will make Christmas a little better for those less fortunate.”

The following people each donated $100 via PayPal: Jerry Anderson, Karen Olson, Hans Bynagle, Sylvia Oliver, Nancy Peterson, Sally Broadbent, Kay Brightman, Keith Kadel, Steve Reed and an anonymous donor.

Scott Engstrom contributed $80 via PayPal. Keith Fernandez donated $60 via PayPal.

An anonymous Spokane donor sent $50. Marcia and Charles Milani, of Spokane, gave $50. Steve, Gail and Ben Quaid, of Colbert, donated $50. Rebecca Rains, of Spokane, contributed $50. Carol Stolp gave $50 via PayPal “in honor of our wonderful dad, Lanny Stolp.”

Susan Borg gave $50 via PayPal “in loving memory of Pete and Ruth Clarke – miss you so much!” Shannon Dunn, Beth Kerr, Margaret Nicodemus, Erik Powell, Peggy Estey, Marcia Downing and Paula Rabey each sent $50 via PayPal.

Kevin Black, Marie Kerr-Francis, Boake Carter and Caridad Dors each contributed $25 via PayPal.