‘Getting books in the hands of children’ a calling of the Christmas Bureau
For 78 years, the Christmas Bureau has been helping people in Spokane celebrate the holidays.
It began as an effort to raise a small amount of money for a disabled war veteran. Over the years, it slowly changed until it settled into the role of helping with groceries and ensuring children had at least a new book and toy at Christmas.
For 40 of those years, Marilee Roloff has been in the thick of things. She was the longtime CEO of Volunteers of America, one of the two charities that partners with The Spokesman-Review to run the Christmas Bureau each year. The VOA is in charge of book buying and recruits volunteers, mostly retired teachers and librarians, to staff the book tables.
When Roloff retired in 2016, she dedicated even more of her time to the Christmas Bureau. She’s the head book buyer and has all 14,000 books purchased each year shipped to her house so she can inventory and sort them before putting them into storage.
“Marilee sorts every single copy herself,” said Christmas Bureau Coordinator Heidi Meany.
Roloff remembers her early days at the bureau.
“When I started, we hand-wrote the vouchers, hand-wrote the information from the families,” she said. “When we finally got a computer, no one knew how to run it.”
Now, of course, the bureau has more than a dozen computers that are used each year to enter in recipient information and print vouchers relatively quickly.
Roloff was honored with a small celebration and cake on Thursday, the last day the bureau was open for the season. She also received a bouquet of flowers arranged in a glass vase engraved with her name and the phrase “40 years dedicated service.”
“We are celebrating a special woman today who has dedicated 40 years to our project,” Meany said.
“Oh my gosh,” Roloff said when she saw the cake and flowers. “Oh, thank you so much.”
Roloff, who enjoys working behind the scenes, was a little flustered by the extra attention. At age 73, she’s simply trying to work to better childhood literacy.
“I believe so deeply in the value of getting books in the hands of children,” she said. “If you can read, you can do anything.”
The hardest part of book-buying is staying within budget, Roloff said. She looks for deals and buys a lot of books from First Book, a nonprofit book distributor with a mission of providing books to low-income children.
“We could never buy retail, ever,” Roloff said. “I find some good books at the Dollar Tree. They’re here and there. That’s what’s fun about the search. It’s the challenge.”
Roloff has always said that she will volunteer at the Christmas Bureau as long as she’s able.
“Someone asked me if I can make another 10 years,” she said. “At my age, you don’t know, but I plan to.”
Though the work of Roloff and the other Christmas Bureau volunteers has ended for the season, there’s more to be done. Organizers need to raise $600,000 to pay for the grocery store vouchers, toys and books. The fundraising goal was increased to $600,000 two years ago amid inflation, making the cost of not only the toys and books go up but also storage fees to store the toys and books that arrive over the course of the year.
However, since the fundraising goal was increased, the new goal has not been met. After falling short two years in a row, it’s more important than ever to try to reach the goal this year.
Rising prices have affected the Christmas Bureau’s regular donors as well, particularly retirees living on a fixed income. This is a year when every gift counts, no matter how small. Even a gift of $30 is enough to pay for a grocery store voucher or a new toy.
Donations
The amount of new donations is $27,840, bringing the year-to-date total to $456,704.68.
The Avista Foundation donated $3,000. “It is a great pleasure for Avista to make an unsolicited contribution for $3,000 to the Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund,” wrote Kristine Meyer. “Avista recognizes the extraordinary need that exists for families this year and would like to support you in your efforts of providing food for those in need. It is a pleasure to support you in your work to address the needs of our community and its citizens.”
Nicholas Paget gave $3,000 via PayPal for the Alliant Surety Bond team “on behalf of our amazing clients.” Mike and Sue Altringer contributed $3,000 via PayPal.
The Justus Bag Company, of Spokane Valley, donated $2,500. “This year has been a year of loss for many,” wrote Darin Justus. “The Justus family lost a loved one this year. Lea Justus took her journey to paradise in May. Lea was a shining light in a dark world. Lea’s was the bright smile on a sad day. Lea was a friend to everyone. Most of all, Lea was an amazing woman, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter. Lea will forever be missed, but her love and her heart will remain for eternity.
“So, this year, in honor of Lea Justus, ‘Curly’ and Dorothy Justus, we are happy to enclose $2,500 to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. Merry Christmas to all!”
Mike and Marsha Dunford donated $2,000.
Johnny and Terry Engleman, of Spokane, gave $1,000. Steve Johnson and Tricia Hastings, of Spokane Valley, sent $1,000, writing, “Merry Christmas. Thank you for all you do.” Pamela Behring gave $1,000 via PayPal. Frank and Tricia Goodman contributed also $1,000 via PayPal, writing, “We are wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.”
Patrick Thomas donated $600 via PayPal, writing, “We wish all a Merry Christmas and want to share our blessings with others.”
Jerry and Julie Hoseid, of Spokane, contributed $500. Clara and Jerry Monks, of Spokane, donated $500. “Thank you for reaching out to those in need at Christmas,” they wrote. Justin and Tamie Voelker, of Spokane Valley, gave $500.
Charles McGelligott and Michael McQuesten each donated $500 via PayPal. Warren Stout gave $500 via PayPal “in memory of CB volunteers Charlotte Stout and Art Hanson.”
Patricia Morales donated $400 via PayPal.
An anonymous Spokane donor sent $300, writing, “Thank you for your hard work!”
Jack and Norma Snead, of Spokane, gave $250. An anonymous donor sent $250 via PayPal “in loving memory of Patricia Shaw.” Mathew Alling sent $250 via PayPal, writing, “Shirley and I hope this brings a smile to a child’s face!” Greg and Colleen Stevens contributed $250 via PayPal “in memory of our parents.”
Patrick Sprute and Karen Schlosser each donated $250 via PayPal.
Rose and Charles Carver, of Medical Lake, donated $200. William and Rita VanCleve, of Spokane, gave $200. Bonnie and Lester Newell, of Chattaroy, contributed $200, as did Marsha Hansen of Spokane. Nathan and Kelly Batson, of Colbert, sent $200. “Thank you for all that you do this time of year,” they wrote. Debra Peterson donated $200 via PayPal.
Russell Cornell gave $200 via PayPal “for Duke and Sue Cornell and Ardith Divine. Merry Christmas!”
Matthew and Libby Pugel contributed $200 via PayPal.
Linda Plett, of Spokane, donated $150. “Quilt Charmers, a local group of ladies who meet at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Colbert, are making a donation of $150 to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund.
“Our members want to give to our community in this time of great need and feel that this fund will reach the most people and do the greatest good. In addition, many members already donate charity quilts to local organizations for those in need. Thank you for all you do.”
Ann Shaw contributed $125 via PayPal.
An anonymous Otis Orchards donor gave $100 “in memory of Mary Briggle. Good luck and I hope you make your goal!” Christine Indgjerd, of Spokane, sent $100. Pat and Janine Maggart, of Spokane, contributed $100. An anonymous Spokane donor gave $100 “in memory of Rick and Joan Haynes, longtime Christmas Bureau volunteers.”
Jacqueline Babin, of Liberty Lake, donated $100 “in memory of James D. Babin and Sue M. Babin.” Darwin Page, of Spokane, sent $100. Judy Colenso, of Spokane, gave $100, writing, “Thank you for making spirits bright for so many families.” Sharon and John Sutton, of Spokane, donated $100.
An anonymous Loon Lake donor sent $100, writing, “Thanks to all the volunteers.” Terry and Gail Reed, of Spokane, gave $100. Doug and Cherie Foss, of Mesquite, Nevada, donated $100 “in memory of my dad, George Poston Jr. He is missed.”
Dick and Lola Houx Lile, of Spokane, gave $100 “in remembrance of Robert and Ellen Houx, who donated many years ago (60+) and we continue this tradition in their honor.” Bill and Kim McGarry, of Liberty Lake, sent $100.
The following donors each sent $100 via PayPal: David McGovern, Frank Puschak, Loren Hendrickson, Constance McLeod, Cindy McMahon and two anonymous donors. Christine Stevens gave $100, writing, “Thank you for all you do to help people have a happier Christmas!”
Marilyn Anderson, of Spokane, gave $75.
Glen and Kim Taylor, of Spokane Valley, contributed $50, writing, “Thank you for all this fund does.” Kim Haas, of Liberty Lake, gave $50. J.L. Koons, of Spokane Valley, donated $50. Warren and Joni Omans, of Otis Orchards, sent $50. Marty Fernandez sent $50, writing, “Thank you so much for all you do and happy holidays!” Winifred Kramer donated $50 via PayPal, as did an anonymous donor.
Hale Howland, of Spokane Valley, contributed $40.
Eric Worden sent $30 via PayPal.
Lowell Lehman, of Cheney, gave $25. Verdine Steen contributed $25 via PayPal.
Donald Largent sent $20 via PayPal.