Christmas Fund 2008
The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund exists because of the generous donations of the newspaper’s readers and area businesses. From Thanksgiving to Dec. 30, the paper accepts donations and publishes articles listing everyone who participates.
Then, through the expert coordination of Catholic Charities and the Volunteers of America, the money is used to open The Christmas Bureau for two weeks in December. The money buys thousands of high-quality toys in January when prices are low. The charities coordinate to gather and train more than 200 volunteers who help make the bureau run smoothly.
Needy families can come to the bureau, held at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center (404 N. Havana) to pick out a toy and a book for each of their children for Christmas Day. In addition, each household receives a grocery-store voucher to stock the cupboards for the holidays.
The result is an opportunity for people in the greater Inland Northwest community to take care of their less-fortunate neighbors. It’s a vast undertaking, and one that hopes to make the holiday a bit brighter for those in need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I donate?
Donations may be sent to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund, P.O. Box 516, Spokane, WA 99210; delivered to the lobbies of Spokesman-Review offices in downtown Spokane (999 W. Riverside Ave.), Spokane Valley (13208 E. Sprague Ave.) or Coeur d’Alene (608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200).
Can I donate online?
Yes you can. Just click on the PayPal button below, and you'll be able to choose an amount to donate via credit card. If you choose this method of payment, a small percentage goes to PayPal for Internet billing services. When you send in a check to The Christmas Fund, as described above, none of the donation goes to processing.
If you'd like us to send you a receipt for your donation, make sure to include your mailing address in PayPal's comment box. If you'd like a receipt via e-mail, just include a valid e-mail address. In either case, we won't share your information with anyone or use it for any other reason. And feel free to use the comment box to tell us anything you'd like.
How do I qualify?
There are no income specifications for Bureau recipients. Anyone who thinks they need the help can come to Bureau. To help the Bureau minimize duplication or fraud, all recipients MUST bring current proof of identity (photo ID or driver's license), proof of residence (medical coupons or current utility bill; telephone bill or rent receipt) and proof of dependents in residence (medical coupons; signed, dated letter from school or social service agency indicating number of dependents in the household). Please note, a Social Security card is NOT an acceptable proof of identification.
Where is The Christmas Bureau?
The Bureau again will be held at The Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, at 404 N. Havana, in the Ag Building.
When is it open?
Wednesday, Dec. 10, through Saturday, Dec. 13; and Monday, Dec. 15, through Saturday, Dec. 20. The bureau is open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day.
Which bus routes go to the Bureau?
Spokane Transit Authority bus routes 90, 94 and 33 all stop at The Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.
Stories
Stories related to Christmas Fund 2008(12/26/2008) In his younger years, Larry Tobin walked through the hardware section of Sears with a thirst for every tool that he didn't yet possess. Now he is 67, a retired airline pilot, and his toolbox lacks no tools. "I've got them all," he says. (12/25/2008) More than 29,500 people woke up this morning to a cheerier Christmas, thanks to a generous community that donated nearly $560,000 to pay for toys and food vouchers for the area's poor. (12/24/2008) Donations of $20,000 from Avista Corp. and its employees and $6,125 from the Fernwell Building tenants helped the Christmas Fund bounce well past its goal today. (12/23/2008) The Christmas Fund is within reach of its goal of $495,000 thanks to generous donations from the community. (12/22/2008) Although the Christmas Bureau closed for the year on Saturday, the work of Catholic Charities and Volunteers of America is not done. (12/21/2008) A $30,000 donation from Travis Pattern & Foundry Inc. this weekend boosted the Christmas Fund within reach of its goal. (12/20/2008) Thousands of community members, including businesses, individuals and families, church groups, and social clubs donate to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund as part of the effort to provide a brighter Christmas for low-income families. (12/19/2008) For the first time in the six-decade history of the Christmas Bureau, organizers closed the charity Thursday because of record snowfall. The bureau will remain closed today, organizers said, and extended hours are being considered for Saturday, the bureau's final day. (12/18/2008) Christmas Bureau volunteer Carmela Conroy gets the prize for coming the longest way to volunteer at the charity. Conroy is visiting her parents in Spokane during a short leave from Kabul, Afghanistan, where she works for the U.S. State Department as a regional refugee coordinator. (12/16/2008) With arctic temperatures expected through the week, Christmas Bureau organizers have arranged to rent and heat a second building at the Spokane fairgrounds to shelter people waiting in line. (12/15/2008) Randy and Sally Olson are among the Christmas Bureau volunteers who donate money as well as time. In the Olsons' case, though, time will equal money for the Christmas Fund, which pays for toys and grocery vouchers given out at the seasonal charity. (12/15/2008) Editor's note: Christmas Bureau recipients come for food vouchers, toys and candy. Reporter Rebecca Nappi is collecting some of their stories. (12/14/2008) Christmas Bureau volunteers say the toys are flying out of the charity at a record pace this year. (12/13/2008) The working poor are expected to represent a large portion of the families who will come today to the Christmas Bureau. This is the second year that the charity, which provides toys and grocery vouchers for the holidays, is open Saturdays to serve those who work during the week. (12/13/2008) Editor's note: Christmas Bureau recipients come to the bureau for food vouchers, toys and candy. Every person has a story to tell. Reporter Rebecca Nappi is collecting some of those stories. (12/12/2008) Editor's note: Christmas Bureau recipients come to the bureau for food vouchers, toys and candy. Every person has a story to tell. Reporter Rebecca Nappi is collecting some of those stories. (12/12/2008) The number of poor people going to the Christmas Bureau for help with their holiday celebrations set more records Thursday, according to bureau workers. (12/11/2008) Kirsten and Shelli Schauman sat down on their milk crates in front of the Spokane fairgrounds gate at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Nearly four freezing hours later, they hurried through the doors of the Christmas Bureau, excited to get into a heated building. (12/11/2008) Editor's note: Christmas Bureau recipients come to the bureau for food vouchers, toys and candy. Every person has a story to tell. Reporter Rebecca Nappi is collecting some of those stories. (12/10/2008) The red carpet was rolled out at the Spokane fairgrounds Tuesday, ready for today's opening of the Christmas Bureau. (12/10/2008) Age: 57.Lives in: Cheney.I was born in San Diego and was enlisted in the Navy for eight years. I got in an accident and was burned over 67 percent of my body. I got out of the military and then worked odd jobs and then found out I had hepatitis C because of the treatment of the burns. And then I got diabetes later on in life, and I got to the point where in 2004, I could no longer work and had to apply for Social Security disability. These are my circumstances. It wasn't that I didn't want to work. I can't work. (12/9/2008) Dozens of volunteers spent Monday unloading trucks full of 16,000 toys, dozens of folding chairs and tables, computers and 15,000 bags of candy at the Spokane County fairgrounds Ag Building. (12/8/2008) The Christmas Bureau opens Wednesday, but dozens of volunteers will arrive at the Spokane fairgrounds at 9 a.m. today to begin setting up. The bureau depends on hundreds of volunteers, local companies that donate services and generous donations to the Christmas Fund. (12/7/2008) A record number of needy families are expected to seek help with their holiday celebrations from the Christmas Bureau this year, according to bureau organizers. Based on trends in previous economic downturns, charitable givers are expected to respond to the increased need. (12/6/2008) Thousands of teddy bears will fly across the ice tonight at the Spokane Chiefs hockey game at the Spokane Arena, as fans participate in the annual Christmas Bureau teddy bear toss.
Spokane and Spokane Valley, Wash., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and the Inland Northwest
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