WWVDN Blogs

"For the past several years, SOAR and the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network have proudly taken part in the Walla Walla Annual Parade of Lights, but this year felt truly extraordinary."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"SOAR’s 4th Annual Friendsgiving was a celebration overflowing with laughter, creativity, and connection, the kind of day where every corner of the room buzzed with joy."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"Friday, November 21st, 2025 was the conclusion of the 2025 Challenger Basketball season. Participants arrived at 5:00pm and signed thank you cards for our coaches before beginning warm-ups."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 The SOAR program was invited to a private viewing of the Liberty Theater's production of “A Christmas Carol” in Dayton, WA. We arrived at 6:30pm and began congregating in the lobby."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"There’s something magical about autumn at Middleton Farms; the crisp air, the smell of hay, and the laughter that carries across the fields. This year, SOAR got to experience that magic all over again, and this time, with double the fun!"

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"When SOAR participants arrived at the Dragons Gate Brewery Viking Market, they had no idea they were about to be catapulted into the past, a world filled with fierce warriors, skilled tradesmen, and daring seafarers."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"The universe aligned for one epic evening as SOAR hosted a Guardians of the Galaxy-themed dinner party that was truly out of this world! As participants stepped into the room, they were greeted by glowing galaxy lights, star-speckled blacklights, and tables shining with rainbow beams and shimmering star confetti.

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"When SOAR participants rolled up to Walla Walla Firehouse #2, they had no idea what kind of excitement awaited them! Invited by Lt. Paul Renwick of the Walla Walla Fire Department, our group was treated to an unforgettable evening filled with laughter, games, and new friendships."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"On Saturday, August 16, 2025 I travelled to Pasco, WA to attend Tri-Cities Powerhouse Comic Con, a multi-day event celebrating comic books and various other pop culture entertainment, such as movies, television shows, video games, and anime."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"Who knew game show night would turn out to be such a blast! Was I expecting fun? Yes. But this much fun? Not even close. When I plan SOAR events, I dream them up vividly. Sometimes the real-life version doesn’t quite match my imagination (to be fair, my imagination is very vivid). But this time? Last night’s Game Show Night exceeded every expectation."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"This July, SOAR participants and children from the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network’s Kids Playgroup came together to create beautiful works of art for the 2025 Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"What an exciting time we had! It could not have been a more beautiful evening; the weather was just right, not too hot, not too cold. And for the very first time since SOAR began, our participants went to the fair!"

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"Thanks to a special invitation from our friend Eliza Van De Rostyne, SOAR participants had the chance to experience something brand new - roller derby!"

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"On August 9th, SOAR participants had the chance to attend the uproariously funny teen production of “Treachery at Cartilage Creek or… Our Hero Has a Bone to Pick” performed by Upstage Teens."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"This summer, we welcomed youth and young adults ages 8 - 21 with a wide range of abilities for a week filled with creativity, fun, and community. Each day had a unique theme, offering activities, crafts, games, and STEAM projects designed to be inclusive, engaging, and age-appropriate."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"The Walla Walla Valley Disability Network hosted our Annual Meeting at Veterans Memorial Pool on Friday, August 8th, 2025. The event started at 7:00 pm, and guests enjoyed an hour to swim, relax, use the slides, visit the concession stand, and connect with each other."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"Our Parent to Parent picnic at Lyons Ferry was a beautiful day filled with sunshine, support, and fun by the water. The sun was shining, the water was calm, and the landscape was beautiful, a perfect day for fun in the water."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"The Dynamic Devils season is always something to look forward to! This year, we had 22 amazing players and 12 dedicated volunteer helpers forming two enthusiastic teams."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"On Monday, July 14th, 2025, SOAR hosted an Indoor Soccer event to see if there were enough participants interested in soccer to add it to our Challenger sports lineup."

By: WWVDN Staff
"On July 11th, families gathered at Wildwood Park for a special Celebration, a July Birthday Party and Potluck. This event was more than just fun in the sun, it was about making sure every child gets a chance to feel celebrated, supported, and included."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 SOAR returned to the Rockwall Climbing Center at Whitman College after multiple requests from our members."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"Saturday, June 7th, 2025 SOAR travelled to Bennington Lake for “free fishing day.” Despite the intense heat everyone was excited to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to fish. You could say they were “hooked” on the idea."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"Haley got the opportunity to go to the Special Olympics regional track meet for the first time this past May and I got the opportunity to be a chaperone with Haley. We had so much fun."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"Friday, May 16 marked the grand finale of our 2025 Challenger Baseball season — and what a fantastic finish it was! The day kicked off with warm-ups alongside the Cubs Little League Team, followed by games of catch and plenty of “at bats.”

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"Saturday, May 17, 2025 the sky was dark with the constant downpour soaking our clothes as we waded our way towards our destination. It was the opposite of what most would consider an ideal spring day, but it did not discourage us from diving down the rabbit hole into a whimsical world full of curiosity and wonder."

By: Shamra Baez, Executive Director
"Saturday, April 26, 2025, was a beautiful day to honor and celebrate the strengths, talents, and gifts of children and adults with disabilities in our community. Friends, families, professionals, and volunteers came together at the College Place High School track, where nearly 250 people gathered for a fun-filled event."

By: WWVDN Staff
"What a fun way to spend a Friday evening—building leprechaun traps, making sensory bottles, and trying to get as many Lucky Charms marshmallows on a plate using only a straw!"

By: Shamra Baez, Executive Director
"March 21 holds special meaning in the Down syndrome community. When written numerically (3/21), March 21 represents the genetic cause of Down syndrome—three copies of the 21st chromosome instead of the usual two. That’s why on this day, we celebrate and honor our loved ones with Down syndrome!"

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"On Saturday, December 7 SOAR took part in Walla Walla’s annual Holiday Parade of Lights. The morning of the event we got right to work. Members of the WWVDN staff along with a few volunteers gathered to help decorate the float, working several hours to ensure it was ready for that night."

By: WWVDN Staff
"Parent to Parent and SOAR hosted our first Breakfast with Santa on December 14th at Blue Mountain Community Church. We are so blessed to have a partnership with the church as they have such a great space to rent with a huge kitchen."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"P2P and SOAR went to Waitsburg for the first time for Gingerbread House making. We met at the Town Hall in Waitsburg and had people from Walla Walla, Dixie, Waitsburg and Dayton join for pizza, connect with each other, and use their creativity to create gingerbread houses."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"Columbia County DDA families were able to celebrate Friendsgiving together on November 17th. The Eagles graciously hosted and made a huge dinner with turkey and all the fixings. And of course, we had pumpkin pie for dessert."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"'I’ll be there for you.' Friends. We have them, we are them and that is what we celebrate at Friendsgiving. This year we wanted to celebrate all the friendships that have been made through the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network."

By: David Garza, Web Manager
"On Monday, October 14 we invited SOAR participants to their very own Comic-Con here in the Walla Walla Valley. Since most major Comic-Cons are normally held in larger metropolitan areas like Seattle, most of our community won’t get to experience them."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"One of SOAR’s goals is to introduce opportunities to participants that will help expand mental and physical growth, have a presence in our community, and enrich the life of the individual."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"SOAR participants recently took their very first out-of-town field trip and it did not disappoint!"

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"On a warm October day, the kids playgroup met at the Klicker’s Pumpkin Patch where kids could climb the hay bales and slide down the slide while parents were able to visit and take photos of their children."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"On October 12th, families of the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network met at the corn maze to experience it together."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"WWVDN and Parent to Parent hosted a Mexican Fiesta Night to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16. We had a potluck with some amazing dishes and desserts."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"One of our missions here at the WWVDN is to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, and their families, through community inclusion and support."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"This year the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network and SOAR had the honor of partnering with the Walla Walla Valley Summer Theater to offer our families and participants the opportunity to go see their production of Walt Disney's Beauty & the Beast."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"The end of summer is nearing which means the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network has wrapped up another successful and fun Summer Camp season. Each day dawned new creations or new guests to camp."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"In the Spring, Sara Pinkerton with Little Tykes Preschool came to Shamra and I to talk about bringing a music class to our families. We were so excited for this opportunity and we gladly said YES!"

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"13 families went to Camp Primetime July 16-18th. Camp Primetime is a private camp on Clear Lake off of White Pass in Washington State. This camp is for campers that have disabilities or life-threatening illnesses and their families."

By: WWVDN Staff
"Over 60 people braved triple-digit heat on July 14, 2024, to join us in celebrating the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network's 10th anniversary at Fort Walla Walla's picnic shelter."

By: WWVDN Staff
"Shamra Baez grew up in Western Washington and attended college at the University of California Berkeley where she obtained a BA in Applied Mathematics. She settled in California where her three daughters were born, then moved to Michigan and discovered what life with five months of winter every year feels like."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"SOAR participants arose bright and early Thursday morning to take part in the annual Walla Walla Balloon Stampede. Attendees met at Howard-Tietan Park at 5:30 am to watch as the hot air balloons inflated and launched."

By: WWVDN Staff
"On Saturday, April 20, 2024, WWVDN held our fifth Ability Walk & Roll and it was phenomenal! This year we had over 200 people in attendance!"

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"The WWVDN wrapped up its 2024 season for Challenger Basketball and it was phenomenal! This year we had 16 participants in our Youth League. Each week in the youth league Coach Patrick McFetridge taught youth participants the lay of the court (sideline, mid-court, three point line, etc.) as well as dribbling and shooting."

By: WWVDN Staff
"Cyndy Knight, former Walla Walla Valley Disability Network Executive Director, will be recognized for her Exceptional Nonprofit Service on March 1, 2024 at the Blue Mountain Celebration of Giving."

By: WWVDN Staff
"Over 150 people attended the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network holiday party on December 15, 2023!"

By: WWVDN Staff
"Our 2023 You Made A Difference Award winners were honored at the WWVDN Holiday Party on December 15, 2023. This year we had seven award recipients who have all made positive differences in the lives of children & adults with disabilities and their families."

By: WWVDN Staff
"Parents Day Out, an opportunity for parents and caregivers to get a few hours to do whatever they want, was held at the YMCA on Saturday, November 18 and featured games, activities, pizza, and swimming."

By: WWVDN Staff
"The Harvest Party this year was held at the Center for Children & Families (formerly Blue Ridge Elementary) and featured carnival-style games in the gym. There was a wide variety of excellent costumes worn by young and old."

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"Rascal Rodeo rode in to town on Saturday, September 2, 2023 to the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days Arena. Rascal Rodeo began 10 years ago as a school project done by Ann-Erica Whitemarsh where she created a rodeo for people with disabilities to get a chance to be a cowboy or cowgirl for a day."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"On August 24, SOAR participants volunteered their time and energy to help Blue Mountain Action Council with food distribution."

By: WWVDN Staff
"WWVDN Board members, staff, volunteers, community partners, and families all came together at Wildwood Park to enjoy ice cream sundaes, meet our new executive director, Tim Sicocan, and acknowledge the many volunteers who make all the events, activities, and workshops provided by Walla Walla Valley Disability Network possible."

By: Tahasha Foxe, SOAR Director
"We just wrapped up our 2023 Annual Summer Camp for kids ages 8 through 21 years old and it was fantastic! We had a great time and we are already excited and planning for next year!"

By: Angie Witt, P2P Coordinator
"Another successful year of Dynamic Devils Softball. We played doubleheaders for 6 weeks on Wednesday evenings in May & June and it was so much fun!"