311 or 509.755.2489
Friday, September 4, 2026 at 12:43 p.m.
“Keep Kids Moving” – A Fund to Help Replace Recreation and Sports Gear for Youth who Lost their Homes in the Spokane Complex Fire
Spokane, Wash. - A group of community partners are kicking off an effort to ensure kids who lost everything in the Spokane Complex Fires have the gear they need to stay active in recreation and sports.
The Spokane Parks Foundation, Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), City of Spokane Parks & Recreation, Spokane Public Schools, Mead School District, and Nine Mile Falls School District have partnered to establish a fund to help get new gear into the hands of kids who lost their homes in the fires.
The gear can include items to help youth participate in organized sports – items like football or track shoes – or to stay active in recreational activities like dance, skiing, martial arts, or on the playground.
Utilizing a $10,000 donation from the Seattle Mariners as initial funding, the Spokane Parks Foundation and the City of Spokane’s H.O.M.E. Starts Here Fund are contributing matching funds of $5,000 each. Community members interested in contributing to the Keep Kids Moving fund may visit https://givebutter.com/keepkidsmoving.
Families who lost their homes are asked to work with their school counselor for each youth who is a high school senior or younger. Their counselor will help connect them with an application where they will be asked to provide information about their equipment needs and timing, to help us get gear into the hands of kids who need fall sports/activities equipment right away. Youth with gear needs for winter activities may receive their gift card over the next couple of months.
Assistance will be issued in the form of $100 gift cards to local sports and recreation equipment stores. Organizers are asking athletic/recreational supply businesses interested in participating to please contact parks@spokanecity.org.
“It is so important to help restore access to healthy recreation and sports for kids who were so deeply impacted by the fires. We know it’s just a small piece of a complex rebuilding process, but our aim is to help deliver hope and some part of a normal, healthy routine for our kids.” - Garrett Jones, director of City of Spokane Parks & Recreation
“Getting back to the things that make kids feel like kids is an important part of the recovery process. Returning to sports, spending time with teammates and coaches, and getting back into a familiar routine can provide a sense of normalcy. Providing a donation from the HOME Starts Here Fund to help replace equipment is just one small way we can support our young people.” – Mayor Lisa Brown
“For kids who have lost so much, having the equipment they need to participate in sports and recreation can help them stay connected to their friends, their activities and their community. Staying active is so important to their health and happiness, and this effort can remove one more barrier and help them get back to doing the activities they love.” - Yvonne Trudeau of the Spokane Parks Foundation
“Athletic trainers are committed to supporting the health, safety, and well-being of young people so they can confidently participate in the sports and activities they love. The Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association is proud to help ensure that children affected by the Spokane-area fires have the equipment and resources they need to get back in the game.” - NATA District 10 Director Kasee Hildebrand
-###-
In Spokane
We All Belong
509.625.6200
parks@spokanecity.org
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
