Currently about 14,000 meals a week are being served to people in need at 30 sites in the Spokane area, he said. On Tuesday, Feed Spokane will begin collecting unused prepared food from Northern Quest Casino, a huge addition to the movement to eliminate waste and hunger in the community. Smith estimates unused food from the casino may provide 1,000 meals a month. Adding the casino to the list of about two dozen area restaurants and caterers couldn’t come at a better time, said Smith. He describes the current state of need in Spokane as “a perfect storm,” in which more people are falling into poverty at a time when businesses are able to give less.
Smith said charities and social service organizations have seen a 30 percent decrease in donations this year as the “recession has taken people who were living at the margin and pushed them” into poverty. “Every site I work with says they are seeing more people,” he said. For example, the Truth Ministries homeless shelter has begun serving free meals to as many as a dozen walk-ins in addition to residents of the shelter in recent months, Smith said.
Meanwhile, the Davenport Hotel – Feed Spokane’s largest donor up until now – had to cut its food contributions in half as its convention business declined, he said. Unused food from the Davenport’s banquet kitchen is frozen and delivered to the Women and Children’s Free Restaurant, which feeds about 125 people three times a week. If there is anything left over, it will be sent to other meal sites, such as Hope House or Crosswalk, Smith said. Spokane’s capacity for generosity and volunteerism seems bottomless, Smith said.
“I am amazed at how much gets done in Spokane when it comes to meeting the needs of those in crisis.”
Recently Coeur d’Alene Brewing donated a 20-foot refrigerated truck to Feed Spokane. The charity will put the vehicle into service Tuesday, when it picks up its first donation from Northern Quest.
To Get Involved, Donate, or Volunteer Please Phone: (509) 216-7364
Courtesy of October 26, 2009 Kevin Graman kevingr@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5433
New wheels for free meals
Posted by TamiKennedy on Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:01 am ( Reads: 890 )
Davenport Hotel Chef Bryan Frantz providing rescued food to
Director Maurice Smith for Feed Spokane
Feed Spokane is a coalition of meal providers and community partners in the greater Spokane area who work together to serve free meals to those in need. Our vision is to secure more available food for those in need by creating an efficient, sustainable partnership between food donors, meal providers, and outreach workers. We do this by providing an open forum for involved parties to discuss issues, share resources, and provide education to the community at large.
Posted by Jack on Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:10 am ( Reads: 1827 )
In 2004, Spokane registered 6874 homeless individuals; 795 of them were children under the age of 18.
The average income was $84/month, or about $1000/year.
All indicators suggest that these numbers are increasing.
You Can Help!
VOLUNTEER! Every volunteer hour is considered a $18 donation. If you came to the Sack Dinner on Thursday night for 2 hours, you already donated $36 to the poor.
Where Can You Volunteer?
Women's & Children's Free Restaurant
St. Paul 's United Methodist Church / 1620 N. Monroe, Spokane 99205
Serves a nutritional meal to low-income women & children; only about 15% are homeless
"Men volunteers can serve as dishwashers, set-up, take down, food distribution, prep cook, inventory, office and laundry!"
Tuesday morning prep cook
Tuesday evenings: set up, server, dishwasher
Wednesday mornings: prep cook, inventory, laundry
Thursday mornings: prep cook, office
Fridays: set up, food distribution, server, dishwasher, prep cook, take-down
Truth Ministries has recently received a new kitchen. They will be serving breakfasts and dinners every day.
Dinners are served at 8:30 at 1910 E Sprague.
Truth Ministries is looking for volunteers to serve from 7:00-9:00pm.
Please call 949-2354 for information.
Mid-City Concerns/Ready 2 Serve Ministries
1222 W. 2nd Ave , Spokane 99201
Mid City Concerns programs serve low income or needy elderly. Meal site services as well as Meals on Wheels. Contact Oscar Harris or Jennifer @ 747-3257 oscahj@yahoo.com
Food Not Bombs
1101 W. 1rst
Food Not Bombs is an international grassroots youth organization that has been in existence for decades. They serve vegan food, Monday and Saturday Nights from 6:30-7:00pm.
In July 2006, Feed Spokane, a coalition of meal providers joined forces with local restaurants to create a pilot project called the Food Rescue Program. This program seeks to reduce hunger in Spokane as it collects nutritious food from restaurants that would other wise be wasted. In 2007 Feed Spokane became a Federal 501 (c) (3) Public Charity Organization. At the time of this writing we are rescuing on average 4000-5000 lbs. of food per month and delivering it to mealsites who have expressed a desire to be part of the coalition.
We are looking for several new donors to add to the growing need for food assistance in the Spokane Area.
Contact: Maurice Smith, Executive Director 216-7364.
Volunteer of America, Crosswalk
525 W. Second Ave, Spokane 99201
A multi-service center for street kids, homeless and high-risk youth aged 13-17
Volunteers needed to provide and serve meals – no training required.
Volunteer to supervise the teens in the evening – some training required.
Campus Kitchens is currently looking for volunteers to help prepare and deliver meals to low-income members of the Spokane community. Here's how the Campus Kitchen works: we recover food primarily from on-campus Sodexho dining services, as well as from the Second Harvest food bank and Feed Spokane, and utilize student/young adult leaders to distribute meals around Spokane.
School is back in session, but we still need volunteers! Student leaders will be running the show, but community members are encouraged to help make and deliver meals now as well as in the future. We like to see groups or individuals come to the Campus Kitchen once or once a week!
The following is our current volunteer opportunities schedule, but it is subject to change so please contact Emily Paulsen (509.323.6939) or paulsene@gonzaga.edu if you are interest in volunteering:
2020 N. Division, Spokane 99207 – located behind The Salvation Army Thrift Store
Provides food, rental, transportation, and utility assistance, furniture and household items, vouchers, vocation training services, and holiday food boxes
In 2004, at the food bank alone:
6008 different households received assistance
17,661 individuals were helped
11,156 of which were children
10,648 people were helped at Thanksgiving
Volunteers desired primarily Thursday 9:00-12:00. Long term volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application and undergo a background check.
Donate to the Thrift Store. Call 325-6805 to arrange collection of larger items.
SNAP's Thursday Night "Sack Dinner"
Volunteer at the Sack Dinner on Thursday nights from 5:00-7:00 PM.
The SNAP Sack dinner provides a model for local agencies. It provides food as a gateway to bring outreach services to those in need. SNAP offers experts for Community Voice Mail, Food Stamps Applications, DSHS benefits, STA transportation assistance, Family and Singles Housing, SNAP energy Assistance, Chemical dependency, Mental Health and Medical Care. All served are greeted warmly in a non judgmental caring way. We strive to for bonds with each and every person that comes in the door in order that no person goes without assistance to provide for there basic needs voluntarily.
In 2005, open just one night a week for one hour, we served 8577 meals.
- This is a 27% increase over 2004 and a 54% increase over 2003.
The City Gate is a ministry which provides hot meals, "take-out food", clothing, shelter and a warm comfortable gathering place for homeless citizens in downtown Spokane.
Please Contact: Jim Moan or Brittany Denison (509) 459-0410
For more information , please visit www.spokanehomeless.org. In particular, see the links along the left-hand column. Resource Finder allows you to search for specific services, perhaps for someone you are trying to help. Volunteer Post lists volunteer opportunities across the city.
Posted by Jack on Fri Feb 02, 2007 10:15 pm ( Reads: 2397 )
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