Mamma’s Hands will host its 2026 Annual Gala, Unmasking Hope, on May 1 at the Hilton Bellevue, bringing the community together for an evening focused on supporting women and children in crisis.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include dinner, a live auction, a keynote speaker and entertainment, with black tie optional and masquerade masks encouraged. Tickets start at $150 and include dinner. Guests are asked to RSVP by April 20, with ticket purchases and sponsorship opportunities available through April 30 at mammashands.org.
Funds raised during the Gala directly support Mamma’s Hands’ House of Hope program, which provides shelter, case management, children’s therapeutic services, legal advocacy and emergency financial assistance. “Every dollar raised at the Gala goes directly to the women and children in our care — shelter operations, case management, children’s therapeutic services, legal advocacy, and emergency financial assistance,” Executive Director Star Lalario explained.
This year’s fundraising goal is $300,000, which will help sustain current families, expand capacity and reduce the number of women turned away due to limited resources.
Based in North Bend, Mamma’s Hands has been serving the community for more than 35 years and operates the only 24/7 emergency domestic violence shelter in the Snoqualmie Valley. Through its House of Hope program, the organization provides a safe and supportive environment for mothers and children facing crisis, with individualized plans designed to help families secure stable housing and rebuild their lives.
In 2025, the program served 26 families, representing 74 individuals. About a third of those families came directly from the Snoqualmie Valley, with nearly 60% from the broader Eastside. Demand for services has continued to grow, with the organization receiving weekly calls from women they are unable to accommodate. “Every week we receive calls from women we cannot accommodate,” Lalario noted. A recent $50,000 donation from the Whalen Group to install new septic infrastructure is expected to expand capacity, allowing the organization to house two additional families.
One recent success story highlights the program’s impact. A former resident, identified as L.W., arrived with her daughters after fleeing an abusive situation. With support from Mamma’s Hands, she was able to enroll her children in school, access housing and employment resources, and eventually raise the funds to sit for the Washington State Bar Exam. She passed and is now a practicing attorney defending victims of domestic violence.
Beyond shelter, Mamma’s Hands offers ongoing support through its Aftercare Program, which provides up to two years of post-shelter assistance, including case management, emergency financial assistance, eviction prevention and mentorship. Currently, 125 women and children are enrolled, with a 92% stable housing rate six months after leaving the program. “Leaving shelter is the beginning of the hardest part,” Lalario emphasized.
That long-term support is critical as many families arrive after extended periods of instability. “You cannot rush recovery from years of trauma,” Lalario added, noting that women often come to the program without documents, medications or financial resources.
This year’s Gala theme reflects those experiences. “This year’s Gala — ‘Unmasking Hope’ — takes place May 1st at the Hilton Bellevue, and the theme couldn’t feel more right,” Lalario shared. “Every woman who walks through our doors has spent years hiding behind a mask of survival. This evening is a celebration of what happens when that mask comes off — when safety, healing, and a fresh start become possible.”
With a core staff of just two people and more than 100 volunteers, Mamma’s Hands relies heavily on community support to continue its work. Volunteers, Lalario added, “are not extras, they are essential.”
For those unable to attend the Gala, there are other ways to help. Donations can be made at mammashands.org, and the organization accepts in-kind contributions such as household goods, children’s clothing, school supplies and grocery gift cards. Raising awareness is also critical. “Many women in this valley don’t know there is a shelter here,” Lalario explained. “Word of mouth saves lives.”
For organizers, the event is not just an evening gathering, but a way to directly impact local families. “When you support Mamma’s Hands, you are not helping someone far away. You are protecting someone right here — someone who may have needed help long before anyone knew it,” Lalario said. The Unmasking Hope Gala on May 1 offers the community a way to directly support women and children in the Snoqualmie Valley who need a safe place to turn.
