This is it! The last weekend before the big day next Friday, and there is again no shortage of ways to get your Ho Ho Ho on.
The Santa Parade Is Coming to Snoqualmie Collect Food for Those in Need
On Saturday, December 19, 10 am to Noon, throughout Snoqualmie, Santa arrives in a fire engine with Snoqualmie firefighters and Phoebe Firedog to collect food for the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank. Check out the parade route, which starts downtown and travels to Snoqualmie Ridge.
The Snoqualmie Firefighters Association coordinated this citywide food drive with a festive twist.
The parade begins at the corner of SE Park St and Meadowbrook Way SE (near Mount Si High School) and the fire engine will meander through downtown Snoqualmie and then up to Snoqualmie Ridge. The parade turns right from Snoqualmie Parkway onto Fairway Ave SE and travels through Snoqualmie Ridge neighborhoods, finishing at Snoqualmie Parkway and Swenson Dr. SE (near Timber Ridge Elementary School).
Place food donations at the end of your driveway or on the curb. You can do this just ahead of time or stay for Santa. Firefighters, who will be wearing masks and practicing social distancing, will pick up the donations.
Donation Items Needed
This year, with COVID-19 cases spiking and unemployment, more individuals and families rely on the food bank to get them through.
A list of items most needed is posted on the City of Snoqualmie website and includes high-protein foods, canned foods, and dried goods.
If you are as Cuddly as a Cactus Meet Mr. Grinch at Wild Hare Vintage
For one day only, on Saturday, December 19th, from 1 pm-4 pm. Meet the Grinch and get a safe distance photo with him this Saturday afternoon in Historic Downtown Snoqualmie.
They will be filling up a trunk for donations to our local valley backpack program. Bring food to donate and you will receive 15% off at Wild Hare Vintage too!
🎶your a mean one Mr. Grinch 🎶
Helping to stop STUDENT HUNGER in the Snoqualmie Valley School District. Find a list of the items needed to fill the trunk here.
The Sno-Valley Eagles-Getting through the Pandemic One Meal at a Time
Heather Payne and her husband Ross moved to the Valley in 2011 and joined the Sno-Valley Eagles in 2016. Ross is the current chapter President. Heather worked as a bartender for about four years and has been on the board for 3 years.
Like everyone else, the Eagles were locked down at the start of the pandemic. About 8 weeks before they were allowed to re-open, Heather had an idea to serve free meals to anyone who needed them.
The Eagles are a nonprofit and still had bills to pay with no money coming in. A couple of members were willing to front the first week to see where it went and see if donations of food or cash would come in. So, they served free meals Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and made a couple of Sunday breakfasts. So, for those 8 weeks, they served 1363 meals to the community and the police department too.
Three weeks ago, they started up again and have served 803 meals so far and picked four local families to support for Christmas. They have been collecting hats, gloves, jackets and blankets for the local homeless population.
Normally they would have done blood drives, make a wish, fallen officers fund, and so many other things, but this pandemic has put a hold on such things. Finding a way to move that energy into something else was important to keep the eagles going in the same direction. They will continue to serve meals until they reopen again.
With the help of community members, they will prepare 80 meals on Monday and Wednesday and Friday, try to hit 100 or more (Christmas dinner will be served Wednesday the 23rd, no meal will be served on Christmas). All of this can only continue if the donations continue to flow. This second round of closings has been tough. Luckily, they had some cash left over to carry them through.
So, if you need a free meal this week, you can get one and if you want to help the Eagles, you can do that too. There is still a need for gift cards for families and unused toys. The last day to drop off is the 20th at the latest, the 21st. You can donate via Paypal here or email Heather directly at Projectquarantine4cause@gmail.com. They will be in touch with women and children’s shelter to drop off anything left over. Great job, Eagles!
Don’t forget the following holiday activities are ongoing!
- Light up North Bend contest is over but a downloadable map is available on the city website so that residents may do a Light Up North Bend Holiday Spirit Drive and tour all the twinkling, decorated homes that participated.
- Through Christmas Eve, Santa will be at Eastside Fire and Rescue’s Station 83 Friday and Saturday nights from 5-8 pm for socially distant photos.
- The North Bend Theatre will play two 15-minute episodes of the holiday Classis the Cinnamon Bear every night beginning December 12 through December 24 on 89.1 FM. The broadcast will be audible within a two-block radius of the theatre at 125 Bendigo Blvd N. in North Bend.
- Snoqualmie Winter Lights these winter lights began on Thanksgiving and run through New Year’s for holiday cheer all season long.
- The Yuletide Express is ending on Saturday the 19th it is a new 25-minute holiday train ride. Guests will board the festively decorated antique coaches at the historic Snoqualmie Depot travel west to the top of Snoqualmie Falls, pausing briefly at the crest to see the impressive and awe-inspiring view of the river valley below before returning to Snoqualmie.
Have a happy (and healthy) holiday weekend!
