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September 25, 2026. NW Rebuild Project turns six. Why this summer's Spokane fires show how much the work is needed, a new divide-and-conquer design workflow, meet Squatch, and a volunteer spotlight on Jim Anderson.
From NW Rebuild Project
Today, NW Rebuild Project turns six. Since 2020, about 60 volunteers, including architects, engineers, drafters, and designers, have helped families go from “where do we even start?” to a real plan to rebuild. This summer showed how much that work is needed.
Inside NWRP: new design workflow
We have 14 volunteer designers training on a new workflow that treats home design as divide-and-conquer among experts. The team comes together and each designer plays to their strengths, handling one portion of a home. We expect this to speed up design significantly, so that in the end we can serve more families.
How one home gets divided: site and foundation, envelope and roof, and main spaces go to designers; the kitchen and bathrooms go to interior designers; and so on. Every expert handles one piece.
Official introduction
Squatch is officially joining the team: friendly, patient, and ready to help people take the next step after a disaster. You’ll find him in our media campaigns, answering our phone, leading training videos, and helping with everything else. His job is simple: make the next step feel a little less overwhelming.
Volunteer spotlight
Jim builds the systems that help more of our volunteers contribute, and contribute well. His focus is HR, onboarding, volunteer coordination, continuity planning, and disaster readiness, drawing on 18 years at Portland General Electric in HR systems, training, and product ownership. Off the clock he is a musician, hosts Fancy Coffee Friday, and claims he inspired Squatch. We’ll let you decide.
Six-year anniversary campaign
For our sixth anniversary, we asked supporters to help us raise $6,666 in six days, giving in a multiple of six: $6, $36, $66, $600, $666, or $6,000. Every dollar helps families in the Spokane, Washington, area rebuild their homes and stay in their communities. Every gift is tax deductible. Visit the campaign page on Zeffy and choose Other to enter your amount.
Thank you for six years. Help us build the next six.
Sources: [1] The Spokesman-Review, Aug. 21, 2026. [2] Claims Journal, Sept. 8, 2026. [3] Spokane area fires incident summary. Recovery figures overlap; do not add them. Volunteer counts are NWRP figures.
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September 25, 2026
NW Rebuild Project turns six. Why this summer's Spokane fires show how much the work is needed, a new divide-and-conquer design workflow, meet Squatch, and a volunteer spotlight on Jim Anderson.
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