Christmas Fund 2007

Final 2006 tally: $518,464 2007 goal: $485,000

Giving How do I donate? Can I donate online? Receiving How do I qualify? Where is the Bureau? When is it open? Stories Christmas Fund 2007

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.

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?

Saturday, Dec. 8, through Friday, Dec. 21, every day EXCEPT Sundays. 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 related to Christmas Fund 2007

Donations keep rolling in

(1/1/2008) Donations to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund set a record on Christmas Day. Donations totaling $9,833 received since Christmas bumped the fund to $566,343 when it closed for the year Friday.

Record-breaking year

(12/25/2007) The generosity of the local community resulted in a record year for The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund, as donations totaling nearly $43,000 pushed the fund past $555,580 on Christmas Eve.

Words of thanks are high notes

(12/24/2007) A generous community gave more than 30,000 needy people the gift of Christmas cheer this year. Donors to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund have given more than $512,000 so the area's poor families could get toys for their children and food for a holiday dinner.

Record number of families get help

(12/23/2007) With the Christmas Bureau closed for the year, bureau organizers are tallying the bills for the fixings of Christmas given to area poor families.

Bureau closes for the year

(12/22/2007) A generous donation from the Fernwell Building management and its tenants bounced the Christmas Fund past its goal of $485,000 on Friday, the last day of operation for the Christmas Bureau.

Keeping an eye on toy supply

(12/20/2007) With two days remaining in the Christmas Bureau operation, bureau organizers are keeping a close eye on the toy and candy inventory.

Volunteers give time, books for children

(12/19/2007) Thousands of needy children get new toys at the Christmas Bureau, thanks to the generosity of the local community, but they also go home with new books.

Bureau beneficiaries come from many walks

(12/16/2007) If the trend continues, it will be a record year at the Christmas Bureau, which is on course to provide a little something extra this holiday season to more people than ever.

Garco Construction helps build fund with $25,000

(12/16/2007) Volunteers get a breather today before the Christmas Bureau reopens Monday for the last week of operation at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.

Christmas Bureau meeting record-setting demand

(12/15/2007) Christmas Bureau organizers are prepared for another record-setting day today, after a week of seeing more needy families than ever coming to the charity.

Doctors donate $10,000 to fund

(12/14/2007) . A $10,000 donation from the physicians at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, of Spokane, gave the Christmas Fund a big boost.

Gifts swell Christmas charity

(12/13/2007) For more than 60 years, the community has come together to give the gift of a merrier Christmas to local poor families.

Bureau turnout exceeds last year

(12/12/2007) The number of needy families going to the Christmas Bureau for help with their holiday celebrations continues to run well above last year.

Number of needy surprises organizers

(12/11/2007) The sheer volume of poor people coming to the Christmas Bureau for help with their holidays continues to surprise bureau organizers.

VOA a key partner in bureau's success

(12/10/2007) The director of the regional Volunteers of America, Marilee Roloff, stood surrounded by children's books Saturday afternoon at the end of the first day of the Christmas Bureau. She looked tired but undaunted by the task of restacking the mountain of books that spilled off the table onto the concrete floor of the Ag Building at the fairgrounds.

Investment firm helps out again, donates $15,000

(12/9/2007) With a goal of raising $485,000 by the end of December, the Christmas Fund depends on the generosity of thousands of donors.

Big day at the bureau

(12/9/2007) By all measures, opening day at the Christmas Bureau exceeded expectations of the charity's organizers.

Christmas Bureau opening today

(12/8/2007) More than 200 volunteers, many in blue Christmas Bureau sweat shirts, completed final preparations Friday for this morning's opening of the charity at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.

Elves stock Christmas Bureau shelves

(12/7/2007) Volunteers in heavy coats and work gloves lined up drum sets in Row 1, the Noah's Ark Playsets in Row 2, and Monster Movers and Giant Loaders (with hard hats included) in Row 7.

In any language, bureau fills need

(12/3/2007) The Christmas Bureau has long been a multicultural experience for volunteers who distribute the fixings of Christmas to needy families.

Late leader's legacy lives on

(12/2/2007) For years, Donna Hanson was synonymous with the Christmas Bureau. When the longtime executive director of Catholic Charities died in September 2005, she left a legacy of compassion for poor people, says Rob McCann, who stepped in as executive director when Hanson became ill.

Riverside district students will sing

(12/1/2007) Fifty-two elementary and middle-school students from Riverside School District will help usher in the holiday spirit when the Christmas Bureau opens in a week.

Thousands of working poor get assistance

(11/30/2007) Despite economic ups and downs during the past three years, about the same number of poor people sought help from the Christmas Bureau each December, according to Catholic Charities officials.

It takes all kinds to help others

(11/29/2007) The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund depends entirely on the generosity of thousands of Inland Northwest residents.

Volunteers checking toy safety

(11/28/2007) News in August of the recall of dozens of toys made in China got the attention of Christmas Bureau volunteers Judy Thies and Janelle Kortlever.