EWU Steps Up to Help Fire Victims

Eastern Washington University’s Office of Community Engagement was recently filled to the brim with clothing, hygiene supplies and other items being meticulously sorted by Mark Este and Jasmin Davis.

The donations, which came from campus groups and Cheney residents, were made to support children and adults impacted by the recent Spokane Complex Fires, which destroyed 833 homes and impacted thousands of people, including Eastern students and employees.

“In this really, really dark situation, it’s great to see this town supporting our neighbors,” says Este, director of office.

Although the Office of Community Engagement, also known as OCE, has been open for just a year, it quickly became a hub for mobilizing community donations. The donations complemented Eastern’s other efforts, which included opening residence halls to fire victims and relief workers.

Wagon loads of food, clothing and other items have arrived at the office over the past several weeks as the community jumped in to help.

Eastern’s Ideation Lab folks collected food supplies, while the Eagle Store team combed through inventory to donate new hats, gloves, shirts and other university-themed gear.  Teams from CAAR donated clothing from their closet and CAMP provided hygiene kits and sleeping bags.

Tim Collins, director of EWU Athletics, reached out to Este, offering to set up a table to collect school supplies at the recent Red Turf Takeover, on Aug. 13.

“They put some marketing stuff together and we got it out, I’m not kidding, maybe 24 hours before the game,” Este says. “We had about 200 items that they collected there, so the word got out.”

People from the larger Cheney community started dropping by the OCE office with school supplies, clothing and other items, Este says.

Cheney Police arrived with several dozen new backpacks leftover from a prior event. But that was just the start.

“We went out to their truck, and it looked like they went through the isles of Grocery Outlet and just knocked everything into the baskets. We had so many food and hygiene items – so many things,” Este recalls.

Cheney Parks and Recreation dropped by with children’s clothing collected during their August summer camps and Este was recently informed that The Mason Jar is holding a drive to help.

Este says OCE is collaborating with Communities in Schools, Northeast Community Center and Partners Inland Northwest to get the donations into the hands of children and adults in need.

A team of four staff and faculty members answered a call to sort donations at Maddie’s Place – so people impacted by the fire could access free supplies for their infants and toddlers – and Este is keeping an eye on volunteer opportunities to share with students once the school year begins.

While the immediate influx of donations has helped address urgent demands, Este is drawing on lessons from other communities to develop a longer-term plan for helping the greater Spokane community.

Este, whose hometown of Kerrville, Texas experienced devastating floods a year ago, knows that rebuilding is a lengthy process.

“I think what we are really concerned with is this is going to be a very, very long recovery process, just having seen my hometown go through something similar with the flooding that happened last year and, unfortunately, just happened again,” Este says. “A lot of what we are doing is trying to figure out ‘how can we do this long term?'”

Three students traveled with Este to Kerrville over spring break to give their time to Habitat for Humanity Kerr County and the San Antonio Food Bank.

Emmy Landre Dorra, who earned her bachelor’s in biology on a pre-medical track from EWU in June, says the experience reaffirmed her commitment to community and her plan to pursue medical school and become a doctor.

Although it was “chilling to see the damage,” Landre Dorra says they repeatedly met people who shared uplifting stories about people pitching in to care for their neighbors.

“I really enjoyed hearing the stories of how everyone came together, not only in Texas but around the county to help the community,” Landre Dorra says. “That was pretty awesome, to see and be able to help.”

Este says Eastern’s employees and students will continue to step up whether it be for emergencies or to contribute to long-term needs.

“We have a responsibility to fulfill our purpose of higher-ed and that’s to support our communities both in good times and rough times – and we’re in rough times right now.”