Volunteering in Spokane
Feed Spokane Coalition
Homeless Statistics
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 I 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
Contact Karen, Volunteer Coordinator
►Truth Ministries
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.
► Feed Spokane Food Rescue
P.O. Box 805 Spokane WA 99210
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. Several new donors will be adding food to this total in the first quarter of 2008.
We are looking for volunteers to pick up food from pre-arranged locations around Spokane and deliver it to Free Meal Sites. Most pick-ups are once a week.
Time commitment: 2 hours a week/on a regular schedule.
Necessary skills: valid driver license, reliable transportation, and completion of food handler's safety course.
Contact: Maurice Smith, Executive Director 570-3951
►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.
Contact Kerry McCruden, Volunteer Coordinator
►The Campus Kitchen at Gonzaga University
502 E. Boone Ave , Spokane 99258
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:
MON 4:45-6:30 PM Deliveries
WEDS 6:00-8:00 PM Cooking
THURS 4:00, 4:45-6:30 PM Deliveries
SUN 11:00-1:00 PM Cooking
► Salvation Army – Family Services
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.
Average per night: 165 persons
53% of those served were homeless
25% on Social Security
Average cost per meal: $0.92
Average volunteer hours per night: 18.5
Contact: Jennifer Martin
►The City Gate
170 S Madison
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.
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