Spokane, Wash. – After the devastating Spokane Fires, two longtime residents have turned a simple Facebook post into a community‑wide effort to bring holiday cheer to families still coping with loss. Julie Elliot and Glenna Mineer, both living in neighborhoods directly impacted by the blazes, organized a drive to collect new and gently used Christmas decorations for those displaced to hotels and temporary housing.
Why the drive matters
“I have friends, family and neighbors in the community, and strangers too, that are all affected by the fires in the neighborhood,” Mineer told NonStop Local. “I think they’re so incredibly overwhelmed. There’s people still living in hotels.” She explained that while the immediate aftermath of a fire focuses on shelter, food and safety, the holiday season can highlight other painful losses – the familiar sights and sounds of Christmas that families once enjoyed.
“I feel like they see the holiday season as a tsunami,” Mineer said. “That’s like, how am I supposed to face this in the midst of all the little things that I have to do?” The sentiment reflects a deeper need for normalcy and hope as families continue to grieve the loss of homes and cherished belongings.
How the donation drive works
Elliot and Mineer are accepting both brand‑new items and gently used décor that still holds sentimental value. “There were a couple of things that were donated brand new, but most of the things have family memories attached to them,” Mineer noted. “People are willing to part with things as they go around their house that’s still intact. And they go around and think, what would another family benefit from this?”
Donations so far include a collection of Hallmark ornaments dating back to the early 1990s, a hand‑stitched cross‑stitch piece, and strands of lights. “It’s just exactly what Spokane is known for – neighbors helping neighbors, families helping families, strangers helping strangers,” Mineer added. “The fire families deserve to have a holiday season that has glimmers of peace and hope amidst their journey of grief.”
Next steps
The volunteers are currently scouting a suitable location where fire‑affected families can browse the donated items and select decorations that will make their homes feel festive again. They encourage anyone with unused holiday décor to drop it off or arrange a pickup through the original Facebook post.
For more information about the donation drive, including drop‑off details and how to contribute, readers are invited to visit the Facebook page linked in the original post.
Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.
