At Newby-ginnings, we provide support, resources, and a sense of community for Veterans, active service members, and their families. But sometimes, something extraordinary happens—needs are met in the most unexpected ways, almost as if fate had a hand in it. We call it the Newby-verse.
It’s the moments when the right resources appear at just the right time, when generosity aligns perfectly with need, and when support feels almost divinely orchestrated. It’s what makes Newby-ginnings more than just a resource program—it’s a place where Veterans and their families find hope, connection, and sometimes, a little bit of magic.
Welcome to the Newby-verse. Where those who serve receive exactly what they need, just when they need it.
Jack isn’t just a Veteran—he’s a dear friend and originally from Canada. His home is filled with unique Canadian touches, but one thing I never expected to learn was that clothes dryers in Canada are different. Unlike the front-loading dryers we’re used to in the U.S., many Canadian dryers load from the top—something I had never seen before!
Jack had one of these rare top-loading dryers, but when it broke, there was no way to repair it or find replacement parts. He casually asked me to keep an eye out for one at Newby-ginnings, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. In all my years, I had never seen one in the U.S., let alone donated to our organization.
And then—sure enough, one showed up.
Right when Jack needed it, an actual top-loading Canadian dryer arrived at Newby-ginnings. I couldn’t believe it. Another perfect example of the Newby-verse stepping in—proving once again that sometimes, the impossible isn’t so impossible after all.
At Newby-ginnings, we love Christmas! But we also know that the holiday season can be difficult for many of the Veterans, Active Military, and Gold Star families we serve. The rising cost of living, disabilities, and fixed incomes can make celebrating the holidays stressful instead of joyful.
That’s why we created Santa’s Workshop—a special way to bring holiday cheer to the families in our community. Led by our incredible Volunteer Elf, Porgie, and her team of Associate Elves, our Board Room is transformed into a Christmas wonderland, where our enrolled children can “shop” for gifts for their families. Thanks to our generous community—including a dedicated donor from California who sends box after box of brand-new toys every year—every gift is completely free.
But Christmas 2024 was especially hard on many families, and for the first time, we distributed a record number of gifts—so many that we actually ran out. Just as I was preparing to reach out to our faithful supporters, the Newby-verse stepped in once again.
Out of nowhere, the warriors at Gunfighters Inc. arrived with an unexpected delivery of toys and gifts. Other organizations also showed up, dropping off toys they had been quietly collecting for us—without us even knowing! Just like that, Santa’s Workshop was once again abundant, and every child and family received gifts.
The joy on our littles’ faces, the relief in their parents’ eyes, and the overwhelming generosity of our community reminded us once again—the magic of Christmas is real, and the Newby-verse always provides.
A veteran known as Dr.Ew was in the Marine Corps while volunteering at Newby-ginnings. Many asked him what his dream job was once he got out. Well… it just so happened that his dream job was to work at Newby-ginnings full time. Two weeks before getting out of the Marine Corps a position opened up at Newby-ginnings. Now, Newby-ginnings is stuck with him forever.
One of my favorite Newby-verse moments happened on a scorching summer day in 2019. Newby-ginnings was BUSY—standing room only in the lobby, a line of vehicles waiting to drop off donations in the back, and volunteers working tirelessly to keep up. We had reached full capacity, and for safety reasons, we had to put up a sign letting donors know we couldn’t accept anything else that day.
At the front desk, I was speaking with an SSVF Case Manager while a newly enrolled Veteran filled out his paperwork. The Case Manager turned to me and asked, “Do you have any cat stuff? He just moved into an apartment after being homeless and got a new kitten. He needs everything for it.”
I told her about our pet supply area, hoping we had something that could help. And then—right at that moment—the front door burst open.
A woman walked in, looking a little frazzled. “Wow! You guys are really slammed back there! They put up a sign saying you couldn’t take my donation.”
I apologized and asked if she could return the next day. She smiled and said, “Of course! It’s just one box. I recently lost my cat, and these are all of her things.”
The Case Manager and I looked at each other in complete shock. Without hesitation, we carried the box straight to the Veteran’s car. It had everything he needed for his new kitten.
The Newby-verse had stepped in once again—making sure that, even in the busiest of moments, the right things happen at the right time.
The Newby-verse has been working its magic for over 10 years! One of our very first moments happened when we had just moved into our third location in Dalton Gardens. Word about Newby-ginnings was spreading fast, and both our client and donor numbers were skyrocketing.
At the time, my husband, James, was working full-time in Spokane but still found time to handle pick-ups and deliveries with our friend, Jack—sometimes not getting home until after 11:00 PM! We were using our own truck and covered trailer, but it was clear—we desperately needed a box truck.
I kept looking out our front window at a Magic Carpet Cleaning Isuzu box truck parked nearby and thought, That’s exactly what we need! I searched Craigslist, found one that fit our needs, and wrote a grant to cover the purchase, new tires, and a year’s worth of maintenance.
Not long after submitting the grant, I received an email: “After thoughtful consideration, we regret to inform you…” We didn’t get the funding. My immediate thought? Ok! We’ll just keep doing what we’re doing!
Then, less than a week later, the Newby-verse stepped in. Our friend Molly from We’ve Got Stuff, another local nonprofit, called with unexpected news. They were dissolving their 501(c)(3) and wanted to donate their Isuzu box truck to Newby-ginnings!
I couldn’t believe it. I immediately knew—that’s why we didn’t get the grant. The Newby-verse had something even better in store.
And the best part? The truck came with Cedric—who is still with us to this day.
