New Christmas Bureau volunteer looks after fellow volunteers

Volunteer Butch Slaughter has a unique job at the Christmas Bureau this week as volunteers hand out food vouchers, toys and books to families in need. It’s his job to keep the other volunteers happy.

He and his wife, Barbara, volunteered to manage the lunchroom this year after working a volunteer shift last year. He was working in the toy room, and his wife handed out hats and gloves to single adult recipients. This year they were looking for something different to do and noticed an opening in the lunchroom.

Managing the lunchroom is an every day, all day kind of job. “It’s a little bit of trial by fire, but it’s been fun,” he said. “We’re meeting lots of new people.”

One of his key jobs is getting the coffee pot up and running each morning and keeping the coffee hot and fresh all day. “Coffee is such a big deal for everybody,” he said.

He buys soda and salad for volunteers to eat with their sandwich lunch provided each day by Arby’s. He buys the candy that appears in small dishes on the volunteer lunch tables and gets a selection of fresh fruit every morning.

“Because we have a pickup, it’s pretty easy to load it with groceries,” he said.

He said the outgoing lunchroom managers met with him to talk about the various responsibilities and even showed him the ropes on the first day. Slaughter said he was grateful for the help.

Slaughter said his wife can’t come every day, but he’s also being helped by volunteer Bill Howard. “I don’t have other serious commitments I have to do,” he said.

He tries to go above and beyond, bringing bottles of water to volunteers working the toy room or doing computer intake. “The thing that’s really important is how nice everyone is here,” he said.

Though he had to hit the ground running, Slaughter says he enjoys his role at the Christmas Bureau supporting the other volunteers. He’s even planning to come back next year. “It’s all for a really good cause,” he said.

Donations

New donations are up slightly, but there is still far to go to reach this year’s goal of $535,000 to pay for the food vouchers, toys and books being handed out to families at the Christmas Bureau. An additional $16,918 has brought the year-to-date total to $237,970.59.

Gold Seal Mechanical and Richard and Joann Dixon each donated $5,000. “I am pleased to enclose my personal check in the amount of $5,000 as well as a check from Gold Seal Mechanical Inc. for an additional $5,000 to support your great community effort,” wrote Richard Dixon.

An anonymous donor sent $1,000. Ronald Schoenberger, of Spokane, gave $1,000. “To all the volunteers of the 2019 Spokesman-Review Christmas Bureau, thank you for all you do,” he wrote. “For over 33 years the Schoenberger family has contributed to the Christmas Fund. This year in memory of Shirley Schoenberger, please find enclosed this year’s contribution. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.”

An anonymous Spokane donor sent $500, writing “Thank you for all you do! Remembering all those who are no longer celebrating Christmas with us.” The Morales family of Medical Lake gave $500.

Karen and Steve Darling, of Spokane, donated $500. “This year we honor our parents who have passed, Dorothy and Ray Dahl and Jeanne and Alan Darling,” they wrote. “Alan passed away this year at 97. May all experience the joy and love of the season.”

Joe and Pam Ridlington, of Mead, contributed $400. “Merry Christmas to all,” they wrote. “We so appreciate all the work and planning all the volunteers do to help our community.”

Gregory and Colleen Stevens, of Spokane, donated $300. Gunhild Clegg, of Spokane, contributed $300, writing, “Once again, it is my pleasure to add my contribution to your marvelous fund! So many years since my family was blessed with a box of goodies. So much fun!”

Art Harlow and Mary Giannini, of Spokane, gave $250 in memory of their parents.

John and Whitney Sestero, of Spokane, gave $200. Jon and Judy Scott, of Spokane Valley, donated $200. Gregory and Diane Wick, of Mead, gave $200. Roger Tompkins, of Spokane, sent $200. “Thanks to the volunteers,” he wrote. Marianne Connelly, of Spokane, gave $200 in honor of Donna Roloff.

Sterling and Mary Leibenguth, of Spokane, donated $198 “in celebration of Mavis, who at 98 years old is still an avid reader.”

Leslie and Meredith Hilby, of Liberty Lake, donated $150. “We have increased our contribution this year because we know that time is short and the need is so great,” they wrote. “Many thanks to all the coordinators and volunteers. Somehow you always seem to work miracles. We ask for blessings for all the recipients and volunteers. Merry Christmas to all!”

Alan and Deanna Eppinger, of Spokane, donated $125. Beth Schomburg, of Spokane, sent $120.

Bruce and Ann Dentler, of Spokane, contributed $100, as did Joel and Joan Rogers of Spokane. Helen Curtis, of Spokane, gave $100. Beverly Hayes, of Nine Mile Falls, donated $100. “Thanks for giving every year a Christmas to remember,” she wrote. An anonymous donor sent $100.

An anonymous donor gave $50 in memory of Greg. An anonymous Spokane donor gave $25.