The Snoqualmie Tribe and Snoqualmie Casino teamed up with tribal led non-profit, Peacekeeper Society to distribute 30,000 pounds of food and PPE to local families at Mount Si High School in North Bend, WA.
Organizers of the event worked with area food banks, non-profits and the Snoqualmie Valley School District to promote the event to the communities of Fall City, Preston, Snoqualmie, North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass. Over 50 volunteers showed up masked, gloved and eager to brave the weather contributing wherever necessary to ensure that trucks were unloaded, boxes were packed and guests were served. The day was filled with positivity with volunteers from the Snoqualmie Casino, Snoqualmie Tribe and Peacekeepers Society coming together sharing stories, music, dance and prayer while serve neighbors in the Snoqualmie Valley.
The Peacekeeper Society’s Emergency Response Program provides critical items such as food, water, emergency supplies and household goods to tribal and non-tribal communities in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. During the early months of the pandemic, the request for aid increased significantly. As a result, they extended their program to include pop-up drive-thru food distribution events in partnership with Tribes throughout the Pacific Northwest. “Partnering with Pacific Northwest Tribes allows us to extend assistance beyond our local communities,” says Peacekeeper Society Executive Director Xuxuxyay Raven. “The Snoqualmie Tribe and Snoqualmie Casino’s generosity is having a huge impact not only in their community but for families throughout the region.”
The Peacekeeper Society relies on an extensive team of volunteers charged with all aspects of planning and executing the statewide pop-up distribution events. Snoqualmie Tribal Council Member and Peacekeeper volunteer, Suzanne Sailto shares what volunteering means to her, “Being able to volunteer and support the Peacekeepers group, and then partnering with them on their stop in Snoqualmie has been a bright spot for me during this pandemic. The collective care and support for our community that resulted from the Tribe’s partnership with Peacekeepers is critical, and it embodies our traditional values.”
Food banks in the Snoqualmie Valley shared their appreciation for the distribution as it provided much needed support following the holidays. “We are so grateful to community members like the Snoqualmie Tribe and Snoqualmie Casino who are always mindful of the needs of our neighbors,” said Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank Executive Director Nikki Lloyd “This health crisis has created a true financial emergency for many families,’” Nikki added, “Each week the number of families we are serving increases creating an immediate need for increased support.”