HopeSparks

09/05/2026

In observance of Labor Day, HopeSparks offices will be closed Monday, September 7.

We’ll reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, September 8.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Labor Day!

09/03/2026

Our shelves need your help 💛

Right now, our Sharing Shelf is looking a little empty. The Sharing Shelf serves more than 60 families each month.

Right now, our shelves can’t keep up with the need. We need your help to fill them.

The need for basic essentials continues to grow, and donations are going out almost as quickly as they come in. We want to make sure the families we serve can continue accessing the everyday necessities they need.

If you’re out and about, consider grabbing one or two extra items for our Sharing Shelf. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and other everyday essentials can make a meaningful difference.

Prefer to shop from home? You can have items shipped directly to HopeSparks through our Amazon Wish List:

🛒 https://a.co/079Jbb0v

Every item helps us fill another space on these shelves and provide essential support to a family in our community.

Anything helps, and we are so grateful for your support. 💛

09/01/2026

Come play at HopeSparks!

Our all inclusive playground is open to children ages 6 and under and offers a welcoming space where children of all abilities can play, explore, imagine and connect.

Whether it’s climbing, pretending, making a new friend or discovering something new, play helps children build confidence, practice new skills and simply enjoy being a kid.

Know a family with a child ages 6 and under? Share this post or tag them below!

📍 3408 S Union Ave, Tacoma, WA 98409
👧 Ages: 6 and under
🕒 Monday: 11:30 AM to 3 PM
🕒 Tuesday through Friday: 9 AM to 3 PM
📞 Questions? Call 253-565-4887

Come play, explore and make some memories with us!

08/29/2026

This is why we gather. 💙

Behind every ticket, every bid, and every gift at our Lighting the Way Dinner & Auction is a child or family whose life can be changed by having the right support at the right time.

Stories like this remind us that when we come together, we can help lift burdens, create stability, and bring hope to children and families throughout our community.

On October 3, we’re gathering for more than an incredible evening. We’re gathering to help ensure children and families can continue receiving the care, resources, and support needed to thrive.

✨ This is the impact you make possible.

Join us at Lighting the Way and help create hope that lasts.

🎟️ Get your tickets today:
https://hopesparks.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/2026LightingtheWayDinnerandAuction/PurchaseTickets/tabid/1587554/Default.aspx

08/26/2026

🎒✨ WHAT AN AMAZING BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT! ✏️📚

Our Back to School event was a huge success! More than 500 backpacks filled with school supplies are heading out into our community, helping children start the school year feeling prepared and ready to learn.

A huge thank you to all of our amazing volunteers and to Heritage Bank, Columbia Bank, and Quota of Tacoma for volunteering alongside us!

We are also incredibly grateful to Kevin A. Iverson, CPA, the Iverson Family, BECU, Tacoma Public Utilities, SiteCrafting, John L. Scott Tacoma North, USI Insurance Services, and BNBuilders for your generous support and donations of school supplies.

And a special thank you to St. Charles for donating toys and food and the Tacoma Rainiers for providing free Kids Day baseball tickets!

It truly takes a community, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for showing up for HopeSparks families!

08/20/2026

☀️🎬 We're excited to join Tacoma Parks for the Summer Bash + Outdoor Movie!

Join HopeSparks and our amazing community partners tomorrow Friday, August 21 at the STAR Center for an evening of family fun, free resources, and community connection.

Stop by before the movie to enjoy:
🦷 Free dental screenings
👓 Free vision screenings, with prescription glasses available if needed
📚 Free books (while supplies last)
💉 Immunizations (while supplies last)
🎒 Back to school resources, giveaways, food, games, face painting, bouncy houses, and so much more!

Then grab your blankets and lawn chairs and stick around for a FREE outdoor showing of Zootopia 2 beginning at dusk! 🍿

📍 STAR Center
3873 S. 66th St.
Tacoma, WA 98409

At HopeSparks, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and we're honored to be part of events like this that bring our community together. We can't wait to see you there! 💙

👉 For more information, visit: https://www.parkstacoma.gov/event/summer-bash-star/

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

🎒 Back to School with HopeSparks! ✏️

This week, we’re excited to celebrate our Back to School event with the incredible families we serve! There’s something so special about helping kids head into a new school year feeling prepared, confident, and ready to learn.

We are incredibly grateful for every donation that helps make this event possible. Every backpack, notebook, pencil, and school supply makes a real difference for families in our community and helps ease the cost of getting ready for a new school year.

We also want to give a HUGE shout-out to Tacoma Public Utilities for continuing to show up for our families year after year with generous donations of school supplies. Your ongoing support means so much to us, and even more to the families who receive these supplies. 💙

Thank you to everyone who helps us send students back to school with the tools they need to start the year strong! 🎒✏️📓

08/14/2026

Heritage Bank showed up for their Volunteer Day and made a big impact! 🎒

Their team spent the day helping us pack 550 backpacks in preparation for our Back to School event next week. Each backpack will help make sure the families we serve have the school supplies they need to start the year strong.

We’re so thankful for community partners like Heritage Bank who give their time and energy to support our families.

550 backpacks packed and ready to go! Thank you,

08/11/2026

🎙️ What does it take to build a healthier future for children?

HopeSparks President & CEO Joe LeRoy recently joined the Well Beyond Medicine Podcast alongside Mary Ann Woodruff, MD, FAAP, Physician Champion for Care Transformation at Pediatrics Northwest, to discuss how collaboration, prevention, and whole child care are transforming children's behavioral health.

Together, they explore what's possible when healthcare providers and community organizations work side by side to ensure children and families receive the support they need before challenges become crises.

The episode is hosted by Carol Vassar and highlights the power of partnership in creating healthier futures for children and families.

🎧 Listen here:
https://nemourswellbeyond.org/episode/reinventing-childrens-health-insights-on-whole-child-health-part-2-of-2/

After you've listened, we'd love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments. Together, we can build a brighter future for every child. 💙

There’s a bold idea bubbling to the surface in health care: if we want to address the numerous problems regarding health and wellness in the U.S., as a nation, we must understand what health is, pay for health, and start with children. Woven into this philosophy is the concept of whole child healt...