The May 28 Family Feast and Touch Truck fundraiser will support the nonprofit’s mission to help first responders combat serious injuries and illnesses.
MAPLE VALVE, Wash. — For Executive Director Joy Throndsen, this job hits close to home.
“I personally have a soft spot for first responders,” she said. “My dad went through something personal…my heart goes out to those special first responders.”
This personal investment—knowing exactly what it feels like to need help, but not knowing where to turn—is woven into the fabric of Lionhardt. The organization prides itself not only on the products it offers, but also on the speed with which it moves.
“We pride ourselves on our agility,” Laidlaw said. “We have a lot of flexibility in what we do.”
For a family suddenly faced with a devastating diagnosis or traumatic injury, that speed means everything.
every dollar donated Reinhardt Funds go directly to first responders and their families, filling a gap that even good benefits can’t always fill at a time when everything else is stretched thin.
Laidlaw said financial help can be for medical bills, groceries, home repairs, utility bills, counseling, funeral or memorial services and other needs.
for honor and memory
Lionhardt was officially formed after a group of people worked together for several years to help Renton firefighter Donovan Eckhardt as he battled a very serious form of cancer.
Their beloved brother passed away in 2015.
His legacy is now honored through Rinehart’s work helping others — a desire Eckhart shares with other first responders.
“I wouldn’t be a firefighter without Donovan,” said Laidlaw, who became a firefighter at 37. “He was my best friend.”
Community celebration scheduled for May 28
On Wednesday, May 28, Lionhardt will host the first-ever First Responder Family Festival at the Maple Valley Heritage Site off Highway 169, which will become a celebration for the entire community, not just the organization.
Event time is 5pm to 8pm
Kids will have the opportunity to explore a fleet of real emergency vehicles: antique fire trucks from the Renton Firefighters Union, ambulances from TriMed and Seattle Children’s Hospital, police cruisers from King County and Washington State Patrol, and fire trucks from the Puget Sound Regional Fire Department.
C. Davis BBQ will serve brisket, ribs and all the trimmings. There’s also pizza and live music provided by Pizza Maniac.
To learn more about family holiday events, how to volunteer, and how to donate, Click here.
