Valley Seahawks fans raise $13,000 in donations for food bank

Published 1:59 pm Tuesday, November 17, 2015

North Bend broke out their umbrellas and raincoats to make it to North Bend 12s Day, a Seahawks fan celebration, and the Wheels of Boom Food Drive on Saturday, Nov. 14.

North Bend Way, from Bendigo Boulevard to Ballarat Avenue, was closed off to host the event. Seahawks-themed vehicles, from Lamborghinis to 18-wheelers lined the streets along with vendor tents. Members of the Wheels of Boom, a Seahawk-themed car club, were taking donations all day for the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank.

Actually, it was all day, and for many days beforehand.

“The reality of that drive is that Wheels of Boom spent months promoting the food drive,” said organizer Stacey Cepeda.

Also in attendance were live music performances including local artist Jessie Oliver, former Seahawk Jordan Babineaux, Mr. and Mrs. Seahawk, and Wilson the 12th Pony.

QFC sold out of all its pre-packaged bags of food for donation to the food bank at the event. Donations filled one 12-foot trailer and half-filled a second one. Despite less than ideal weather, fans still came out to support the event and donate to the food bank in whatever way they could.

Cepeda said the final donation, which included 7,152 pounds of food, was the biggest the food bank had ever received from a single group.

“We ended up with about a $13,000 monetary donation to the food bank,” she said.

A bit of rain didn’t stop these fans who brought out their umbrellas to make it out to the event.

A Seahawks themed Lamborghini Gallardo was just one of the cars brought out by Wheels of Boom.

Jessie Oliver, a local singer gives a great performance under a big tent where attendees gathered to listen and get out of the rain.

Seahawks themed Santa and Mrs. Claus take pictures with young kids next to the donation trucks.

Another Wheels of Boom car was decorated with lights and flags.