SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Since the Spokane area fires, Partners says it has received a year’s worth of donations in just six weeks. That abundance of support has enabled the organization to serve around 400 fire survivors so far, but it has also created an opportunity to help other organizations like the YWCA and the donation distribution center at the Northtown Mall when fire survivors need assistance.
Sarah Henderson, executive vice president of Partners Inland Northwest, explained how the organization is responding to specific requests from other agencies. “Different people are calling in and saying we have some fire victims here that need some help, do you have women’s size large clothes? Then we’re able to accommodate those requests as they come in,” Henderson said.
The organization has taken a personalized approach to serving fire survivors.
“We’ll spend sometimes 1-2 hours with families while they’re here, letting them shop if they want to shop for clothing or go grocery shopping, just to figure out exactly what they need,” Henderson said.
This individualized attention reflects the unique nature of fire recovery. Unlike other crises, fire survivors often lose everything at once and face distinct challenges as they rebuild their lives. Many are currently staying in hotels or with family and friends, which limits their ability to store large quantities of items.
Henderson emphasized the importance of encouraging fire victims to return frequently. “That’s why I think these donations, they’re helping now, but I think they’re going to help in the future as people get semi-permanent and permanent housing. They have their closets back, they can come get shoes, clothes, pants, belts, things like that,” she said.
Among the most in-demand products are hygiene items and diapers. Partners has stacked diapers floor-to-ceiling in one room of its facility, recognizing that families with young children face particular challenges in the aftermath of losing their homes. The organization has already distributed hundreds of thousands of diapers and aims to reach one million distributed by the beginning of 2027.
Due to the volume of clothing and hygiene product donations, Partners is only accepting food donations for the rest of this month. This strategic decision allows the organization to focus on the items most needed while managing its storage capacity.
To process the remaining fire relief donations, Partners is organizing a volunteer event for next Wednesday. The organization is seeking additional volunteers to help sort through the donations. Those interested in volunteering can sign up through Volunteer Spokane’s website.
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