Stoup Brewing has led a fundraising effort this week to help victims of the Spokane fires, collecting about 15,000 pounds of food and other supplies.
The Spokane fires have displaced about 67,000 people and burned around 850 structures as of Aug. 5. There are three fires currently active in the area, with firefighters from two dozen states helping efforts.
Stoup says over 50 businesses and hundreds of individuals have participated in the fundraiser.
“It went absolutely phenomenally. As of now, we are just trying to figure out when we can get the remaining 7 pallets of goods to Spokane,” Stoup Brewing’s Nathan Kowsky told My Ballard, adding that they’ve already filled up an entire U-Haul with food and items.
Stoup’s co-owner Robyn Schumacher has direct ties to Spokane: She grew up there, and her family, who still lives in Spokane, is under an evacuation notice. Her childhood home burned down in the fires.
Kowsky said that Stoup also regularly participates in beer festivals in Spokane, “so making a trip to bring supplies and aid to the affected population made perfect sense to us,” he said.
Kowsky said they may do another supply drive in the near future, but he says the donation centers can only accept particular goods within certain windows. The drive that just concluded was to collect food, hygiene products, and pet supplies/food.
While Stoup has concluded its food and supplies drive, you can continue to support relief efforts through the H.O.M.E. Starts Here Fund and the Colville Reservation Fund. Stoup can also accept donations when you visit the brewery.
“Oftentimes in the face of a crisis, logistics become a barrier to providing support. This is not one of those times. Friends across Western Washington, we are rallying support as fast as we can to get supplies and assistance to Spokane. The fires have reached an unprecedented level of destruction and we have the ability to help,” Stoup shared in its Instagram post about the fundraiser.
Some of the other local businesses that joined in on the fundraiser include Sunny Hill Pizza, Lucky Envelope Brewing, Obec Brewing, Cloudburst Brewing, Reuben’s Brews, Old Stove Brewing, Rooftop Brewing, and Yonder Cider/Bale Breaker Taproom.
Photos: Stoup Brewing