During the challenging times of the past two-plus years, I am continually inspired by the bright light of kindness and generosity that shines up and down the Snoqualmie Valley.
Every week, I see selfless examples of Valley residents and businesses supporting our amazing local nonprofits, charities, foundations and diverse service, arts and business groups. These groups are dedicated to help support people who are facing hardship, to enhance the community through arts, music, history and culture, and to build a strong local retail and business community — not to mention those who help care for the beautiful land that we so love. This collective ethos makes our Valley truly a special place to live, work and play.
The national initiative “Giving Tuesday” is Nov. 29 this year.
Having been entwined in the Valley since 2008, I cannot help but to interact, partner, donate to, help promote and be inspired by so many of these wonderful groups. Some of these groups are doing well, but some are still struggling.
As we look at the remainder of the year and the festive holiday season, don’t forget to try to help out and donate to, volunteer for or join them. Just off the top of my head, here are a few by category. If I miss any, please feel free to reach out to me and tell me about your group.
Community service and fraternal service groups: Kiwanis Club of Snoqualmie Valley, Snoqualmie Valley Rotary Club, Unity Lodge, Fall City Lodge, Royal Arch Masons of WA, Sallal Grange, Moose Lodge, Eagles Lodge/Eerie, Friends of Youth Snoqualmie, Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, Fall City Community Food Pantry, The Preston Food Bank, Carnation’s Hopelink office, Helping Hands Backpack Program, Ultimate Vision, Carepoint Clinic, Reclaim (Snoqualmie Valley Shelter Services), Live Grays Way, Treasures in Heaven, and Love Snoqualmie Valley.
Business/Networking: SnoValley Chamber of Commerce, Fall City Community Association, Historic Downtown Snoqualmie Association, North Bend Downtown Association, North Bend Downtown Foundation, Carnation Chamber of Commerce, Keep it Local SnoValley,
History: Northwest Railroad Museum, Fall City Historical Society, Snoqualmie Valley Historical Society, Tolt Historical Society,
Military and Veterans: American Legion, Eastside Firefighters Pipes and Drums.
Music and Arts: Danny Kolke’s Jazz Club NW and the North Bend Blues & Jazz Walks, Black Dog Arts Coalition, Boxley Music Fund, North Bend Arts and Industry, North Bend Community Theatre, Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theatre, Fall City Arts Association, Mount Si Artists Guild/Art Gallery of SnoValley, North Bend Film Festival, Valley Center Stage at the Sallal Grange, Lee Arts Foundation, and multiple art galleries.
Seniors, Youth and Children’s Services: Empower Youth Network, Encompass, Mount Si Senior Center, Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, Life, Enrichment Options (LEO) and Snoqualmie Valley Youth Activity Center.
Nature, Outdoors, Sports: Meadowbrook Farm Preservation Association, Si View Community Foundation (Si View Parks District), The Trail Youth of Snoqualmie Valley, Friends of Fall City Parks, Raging River Conservation Group, Sno-King Hockey of Snoqualmie, SnoValley Tilth, Friends of Snoqualmie River Trails, Mountain to Sound Greenway and its offshoot, Savor Snoqualmie and others.
Animal welfare: Valley Animal Partners, Upper Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management, Mount Si Fish and Game Club, Kataluna Horse Rescue and Rancho Laguna.
Education: Snoqualmie Valley PTSA, Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation. Not to forget the multiple schools, booster clubs, band clubs, etc.
There are also groups dedicated to our local libraries, churches, ministerial groups, choirs, animals (elk, equine, dogs and cats), water/community associations, sports, wrestling, bikes, unicycle, rifles/marksmanship, trails/hiking, the Snoqualmie Valley Garden Club and last but certainly not least, the humanitarian relief organization, HelpUkraine22, that is run out of Snoqualmie Valley.
During this special holiday season and New Year, I urge you to consider giving time, treasure, kindness, goods, voice, talent and wisdom to these and other groups in the Valley. Each in their own way, they inspire, lift up, connect and heal while they scatter joy and peace. On Nov. 29, let us help give them wings. Learn more at www.givingtuesday.org.
The Valley Gives
The Valley Record will be re-running “The Valley Gives” promotion in December. This is an offering of discounted special page inventory in our print edition and will be an opportunity for local business principals to help tell the story of a local Valley nonprofit or group that they are passionate about, and how that special nonprofit contributes to the community. In doing so, it may inspire others in the Valley to donate or contribute to those nonprofits before the end of the year.
The Valley Gives is designed for Valley nonprofits, charities, foundations, fraternities and arts groups to present their mission or tell their story to our readers — to let the Valley know what service or benefit they offer to the community at large or a special part of it. For local businesses, it is a great opportunity to proudly sponsor a full page, half page or even a quarter page print ad to promote and tell the good news and story of a Valley nonprofit, charity, foundation, or group that they are about, donate to or partner with. As a bonus, I’ll then run a second display ad where they can promote their business, product or service that is half the size of the nonprofit beneficiary ad — free of charge. It is our way of saying thank you!
William Shaw is general manager of the Snoqualmie Valley Record. Contact wshaw@valleyrecord.com or 425-453-2710.
