08/12/2026
❤️ Spokane Wildfire Relief. We need your help. They need your help.
It's that time of year when we come together at Garry's Grocery, in partnership with Charlie's Dinosaur, to give back to local kids by providing backpacks, school supplies, and other essentials they need to start the school year.
🚨 THIS YEAR, THINGS ARE DIFFERENT
Because of the devastating wildfires in Eastern Washington, hundreds of families have lost their homes, and in many cases everything they own.
Among those affected are children who are now facing the start of a new school year without the basic supplies they need.
🔄 WE ARE PIVOTING OUR EFFORTS
Instead of focusing our donations locally, we are directing our resources to Spokane and surrounding communities, where the need is immediate and urgent.
📅 School starts August 27th, so time is critical.
🍝 DONATE AT MACALUSO'S
You can drop donations off with us at the restaurant, 5101 N Pearl St in Ruston, any day we are open. Tuesday through Sunday from 4. We will make sure they get where they are going.
🤝 COMMUNITY PARTNERS & DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Friday, August 14 through Monday, August 17:
📍 Garry's on Pearl, 4601 North Pearl, Tacoma
📍 Korum Ford, 100 River Road, Puyallup
We are grateful to have the Korum Kids Foundation joining us as a donation drop-off location, along with many other sponsors and community partners who have stepped up to help.
🚒 GETTING DONATIONS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED
We are working directly with:
• Spokane-area fire departments
• Local schools and community organizations
• Service and community organizations
This will help ensure donations reach the families and children who need them most.
We also recognize that first responders and local agencies are already stretched thin. Our goal is simple: drop off donations, help where we can, and stay out of everyone's way. We want to help, not add another burden to the community.
📦 If your organization has donations but cannot transport them to Spokane, please reach out to us. We will deliver them.
📍 SUNDAY DONATION EVENT
Sunday, August 16
Garry's Grocery & Gas, North 46th & Pearl St.
🕚 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
🎉 What's happening:
• Donation drop-off
• Music and community gathering
• Meet Charlie the Dinosaur for the kids 🦖
• Seattle Dogs and a drink for the first 200 people who bring a donation 🌭🥤
🎒 WHAT THEY NEED
Back to school: backpacks, pencils, pens, highlighters, crayons, spiral notebook paper, erasers
New warm weather items: coats, hats, gloves, scarves
Cash donations are also accepted, and go a long way. Checks can be made payable to Charlie's Dinosaur.
💙 SUPPORTING BOTH COMMUNITIES
Our local Tacoma-area children will still be supported this year through the Tacoma Police Department and many local organizations that will help provide backpacks and school supplies locally.
❤️ WHY THIS MATTERS
Right now, families in Spokane have lost their homes, their belongings, and their sense of stability.
We can help give their children something simple but powerful:
🎒 A backpack
✏️ School supplies
🧥 A winter coat
❤️ A sense of normalcy
🤝 A reminder that they are not alone
🙏 HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Donate even one item. It matters.
• Donate more if you can.
• Share this message to help us reach others.
• Cash donations go a long way.
🦖 LET'S SHOW UP FOR SPOKANE
Let's come together and show these families that they are not forgotten.
Thank you to everyone who has already stepped up to help. The generosity of our community continues to amaze us.
We couldn't do this without you. ❤️
Let's fill those trucks and trailers and get these kids what they need before school starts.
Spokane needs us. Let's show them what our community can do. ❤️
