Coming Together to Support Spokane Wildfire Relief and Recovery

At Image Source, we believe communities are strongest when people come together to help one another. Following the devastating wildfires that impacted the Spokane region this summer, our team joined supplier partners, nonprofit organizations, and volunteers to provide essential support to families navigating displacement and recovery.

Our relief efforts were recently featured by PPAI (Promotional Products Association International), highlighting how collaboration across the promotional products industry helped deliver critical resources to Spokane-area residents affected by the wildfires.

Although our headquarters is located in Kirkland, we currently have three employees based out of Spokane and several team members with close ties to the Spokane area. The devastation was felt across the state, making the devastation especially personal.

Recognizing the immediate need for support, Rian Emmerson, a teammate based in Spokane Valley, quickly jumped in to find a way to help. What started as a goal to collect 100 backpacks of school supplies for affected families quickly grew into a larger community effort fueled by generosity, teamwork, and a shared desire to help our neighbors. When talking about the relief efforts and the genorosity of others, Rian said, “People just kind of showed up. It was really cool to see people just come and give their time and whatever they could.”

One of the most inspiring parts of this effort was seeing how many people and organizations stepped forward to help.

Working alongside supplier partners, industry organizations, charitable groups, and volunteers, we gathered a wide range of much-needed items, including:

• Backpacks
• School supplies
• Apparel
• Blankets
• Water bottles
• Power banks
• Socks
• Comfort items for children

Each donation represented more than just a product. It represented compassion, encouragement, and the willingness to support families during a difficult time.

What started as a simple idea ultimately resulted in approximately 7,000 essential items being collected and distributed throughout the Spokane community.

Through the generosity of supplier partners and strategic sourcing efforts, more than $60,000 in donated products helped support families impacted by the wildfires. Many of these contributions focused on practical items and back-to-school essentials for children as families began rebuilding and returning to their daily routines.

The reponse reinforced what we have always believed: when people unite around a common purpose, meaningful impact follows.

As a promotional products company, we spend every day helping brands create connections. But this experience served as a powerful reminder that the products we source and distribute can do much more than support marketing campaigns.

Items like backpacks, apparel, blankets, drinkware, and school supplies become essential resources when families are facing unexpected hardships. The Spokane wildfire relief effort demonstrated that our industry is about more than products. It’s about people.

Recovery doesn’t end when the headlines fade. While the fires may be extinguished, many families throughout the Spokane region continue the process of rebuilding.

We’re grateful to every person and partner who showed up, donated, packed, transported, and helped get these items into the hands of people who needed them. As Rian put it, “It really does take a village.” and we’re honored to have played a small role in supporting those affected.

Community involvement has always been an important part of who we are. We remain committed to strengthening the communities where we live, work, and serve. The Spokane wildfire relief effort is a reminder that even in challenging times, compassion, partnership, and action can make a meaningful difference.