Each year, hundreds of organizations throughout the Inland Northwest work hard to ensure that everyone in our community is healthy, happy and whole. The Inlander’s annual philanthropy issue, Give Guide, offers a glimpse into the many nonprofits making meaningful change for the better in our community. You don’t need to look hard to find the passionate teams supporting people at some of the hardest moments in their lives. It’s evident in the care offered by the Childhood Cancer Coalition, whose team members have been in the same shoes as parents like Meagan Glubrecht, whose 3-year-old son Ollie was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. You’ll also find it in the work of Safety Net Inland NW, which helps young adults get on their feet as they age out of the foster care system and set out on their own.
Meanwhile, River City Youth Ops is celebrating the return of some familiar faces as it returns to its roots, and Light A Lamp is expanding its efforts to ensure that teenagers struggling with depression and anxiety know that people care, and help is available.
In addition to our reported stories on these and other organizations, you’ll find an extensive advertising directory of many of our region’s nonprofits that can help you understand the work taking place throughout the community.
If you’re passionate about helping your neighbors, this is a great place to learn how to get involved, where to donate your time and/or money, and to be reminded of the many people working together for good in our region.
— SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL, Give Guide Editor
Light A Lamp works to support Inland Northwest students who struggle with anxiety and depression, one act of kindness at a time
BY COLTON RASANEN
To make a one-time or monthly donation to Light A Lamp, or to buy gift basket items from a wishlist, visit lightalamp.org.
Angella Southerly speaks with students about her nonprofit’s work in schools.
Angella Southerly believes that a single act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to change someone’s life.
After health issues led Southerly to leave her career in the medical field, she founded Light A Lamp in 2014 as her own small way to give back. At first, she focused on recognizing folks who went above and beyond in their communities by making and delivering gift baskets to them.
“I just had a lot of guilt about not being able to work because of my health,” she says. “I’ve always volunteered and always been a caregiver, so this was something I could do to recognize my community members.”
Southerly realized she wanted to do more though, so in 2019 she applied to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. While still continuing her previous efforts, she partnered with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center to provide specialized gift baskets for kids with cleft lip and/or cleft palate and their families. Southerly still works with these families, but that part of Light A Lamp transitioned into its own nonprofit, Inland Cleft & Craniofacial Group.
Then in 2022, Southerly and the Light A Lamp Board of Directors, mainly composed of people working in education or the medical field, decided to shift some of their focus to youth struggling with depression and anxiety.
After the pandemic, about a third of Spokane County 10th graders reported having depressive and anxious feelings, and 18.1% of them said they had contemplated suicide, according to the 2023 Washington Healthy Youth Survey. Both statistics were higher than the statewide totals reported in the same survey.
“We got together and said, ‘Man, our kids are struggling tremendously with their mental health after COVID,’” Southerly says. “So what we did for the older kids in the cleft lip and palate program, we realized we could do for kids in local schools.”
The day after deciding to focus on youth mental health, Southerly reached out to Rogers and North Central high schools to begin offering gift baskets called “health packs” to students who might benefit from them. Light A Lamp calls the endeavor “Project Lift Up.”
The Project Lift Up team delivers a handful of health packs to counselors at participating schools each month to provide to students who may need them. The packs include food and drink coupons, snacks and hygiene products, alongside more fun — but still useful — items, such as journals, fidget toys and drink tumblers. Southerly ensures that contact information for local mental health organizations are included in these packages.
Although it may seem minor, Southerly says this small act of kindness can have a large effect on students’ mental health.
“These baskets that we’re giving are just a conduit that allows [students] to see that people care for them,” she says. “It lets them know that they’re not alone and they’re cared about — even though it’s sent from someone that doesn’t personally know them.”
Project Lift Up has grown quickly. During the 2023-24 school year, Southerly says the nonprofit served 17 schools throughout the Inland Northwest, including schools within the East Valley, Spokane, Tekoa and Reardan-Edwall districts. That’s expected to grow in the 2024-25 school year, with at least 25 schools participating.
Light A Lamp doesn’t receive federal or state funds — it relies on private donations at its annual June fundraiser, “Light Up the Night.” This year, the nonprofit raised enough funds to fully support Project Lift Up at 15 of the 25 schools it plans to serve. Other funds will come from local businesses, which can sponsor these efforts at a single school for about $2,500.
However, that may change soon as the organization has grown large enough to hire a grant writer to find and apply for other sources of funding. Light A Lamp is also searching for an office, so it can move operations out of a shed (delightfully called the Lighthouse) on Southerly’s Mead property.
“My dream is that we’ll be in every school in the region,” she says before correcting herself. “It’s a goal that we’re going to make happen.” n
The Literacy Project of North Idaho
The estimates vary — 32 million adults? 46 million? — but the urgency is clear: at least 1 in 6 American adults cannot read or write above a third grade level. They’ve been left behind by unscientific teaching methods, or rushed along by a school system that advanced them despite failing benchmarks, or they were simply pulled out of school to work.
No matter the reason, it’s not their fault they can’t read well, says Kat Gilmore, founder of the Literacy Project of North Idaho.
“Reading is one of those things you can’t teach yourself,” she says.
But smart people can figure out a way to avoid reading. In Gilmore’s experience, most nonreaders find coping mechanisms that allow them to function well in daily life without reading.
They can cope so well, in fact, that their low literacy goes undetected by family and friends, Gilmore says. Some are successful local business owners or other respected community members. But the shame of not being able to read well keeps adults from seeking help.
That’s where the Literacy Project steps in. Gilmore and other teachers offer confidential classes for adults who have low to no reading skills.
In May, the Literacy Project received a $10,000 grant from the Innovia Foundation to help keep these efforts alive. The grant will also support English as a second language classes for community members who are learning the language.
But there’s plenty more need and plenty of ways to get involved. Coming soon, you can dress up as your favorite author or character for the Literacy Project’s WalkRunRead 5K fundraiser on Oct. 19. The $30 entrance fee goes straight to supporting programs. You can also visit theliteracyprojectni.org to find out how to volunteer your time or resources.
“My heart is with those people who find the courage and are humble enough to just say, ‘Help,’” Gilmore says.
— ELIZA BILLINGHAM
– Kelli Stangel, RN, BSN, CHPN, Director of Hospice House and Admissions
should be fun — for everyone!
WINNING IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
COEUR D’ALENE CASINO IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
At Coeur d’Alene Casino, giving back to our community represents one of our longstanding Coeur Values. Over the years, we’ve given more than $35 million to schools in our region. In addition, employee team members lend a hand at community charity events such as Blessings Under the Bridge, Tools 2 Schools, and more. Coeur d’Alene Casino gives hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to sponsorships, non-profits, organizations, and deserving individuals. In late 2019, we launched “Coeur Connections,” giving our community work a formal name. Giving is a part of our culture and we will continue to expand our efforts to lend a helping hand to the people of Idaho and our Inland Northwest region.
Kids • Social Services • Civil and Human Rights • Education
How To Give
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
AHANA – Multi-Ethnic Business Association
327 E. Paci c Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
509.503.1024 ahana-meba.org ahana@ahana-meba.org
AHANA is an acronym for Asian, Hispanic, African, and Native American, and we are the umbrella business organization for all under-represented and under-served ethnic communities and cultures in the region. We educate small businesses on how to start up, grow, and expand to become successful. AHANA is a proud partner of the Washington State Dept of Commerce Small Business Resiliency Network.
GET INVOLVED
Small Business Incubator Program
Small Business Accelerator Program
Small Business Workshops
Akin (formerly Children’s Home Society of Washington)
2323 N. Discovery Place • Spokane Valley, WA 99216
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
509.747.4174 akinfamily.org spokane@akinfamily.org WHAT WE DO
Akin is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of children, families and communities, and committed to seeking the transformation of the child welfare system.
Akin (formerly CHSW) has a broad continuum of care from prenatal-adulthood, leveraging 100+ years’ expertise to advance child and family wellbeing and strengthen caregiver-child relationships through family support, early learning and mental and behavioral health programs in Spokane and statewide.
GET INVOLVED
Your support allows Akin to keep o ering programs that make a positive impact on families in the Spokane area. Give today! https://bit.ly/3R7upgl
320 E. 2nd Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.328.6326
arc-spokane.org
info@arc-spokane.org
We promote independence and choice and enhance the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
• e Arc of Spokane provides numerous services and programs to fully engage people with IDD in their communities.
• Transition and Young Adult Programs for teens and young adults as they transition into adulthood.
• Advocacy and Family Support Programs including individual advocacy, legislative advocacy and support for parents of children with IDD.
• e Community Center provides adults with IDD opportunities to build friendships through games, enrichment classes and group outings around Spokane.
• Supported Employment matches people with IDD to jobs in the community that t their needs and abilities.
• e Investment Recovery Center is an over 30-year partnership with Avista that employs adults with IDD to perform jobs such as driving forkli s and sorting cast-o wiring and equipment for recycling.
• e Supported Living program serves about 50 individuals with IDD who live as housemates in homes they own, lease, or rent together.
GET INVOLVED
• Donate and shop at e Arc ri Stores in Spokane and Spokane Valley.
• Attend our fundraising events, Rock the Runway and the Cornhole Tournament.
• Make a gi through a one-time donation or become a sustainer and give on a monthly basis.
VOLUNTEER
Apply to become a volunteer to make a di erence for individuals with IDD! Volunteer with:
• Community Center
• Helping parents with Parent to Parent
• Transition & Young Adult Programs
Join us for an end-of-summer Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser! SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • 11:00 AM-3:30 PM • 320 E SECOND AVE
Learn more and register at: arc-spokane.org/cornhole
Artisans is a non-pro t agency providing services necessary for individual job development, employment support, and employment opportunities in the community for persons with disabilities.
Artisans provides Supported Employment, Community Inclusion, and Independent Living services in Spokane, Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties for persons with varying disabilities. Each person we serve is unique and has speci c skills, abilities, and talents. Because of this, our agency prides itself in o ering services and employment opportunities as diversi ed as those we serve. ese services are provided through DDA, DVR, FCS and private contracts.
Supported Employment: O ers services throughout the entire employment process including resume building, interview skill building, job development, job coaching, and training. Sta members work diligently to o er job placements in the community and personalized support, centering e orts on each person’s interests and abilities. We pride ourselves in hiring sta with diverse backgrounds to support individuals in various work industries.
Community Inclusion: O ers services focused on community engagement activities and goals. It is designed for individuals who have reached retirement age, or for individuals in need of skill building and community integration to prepare for employment through volunteerism, social outings, and other community-based activities.
Independent Living: O ers services to assist individuals with accessing and utilizing the public support systems including, but not limited to housing, food, clothing, and nancial resources. Specialized skill training is also available.
GET INVOLVED
Businesses:
• Reach out to us for your hiring needs
• Host mock interviews for job seekers
• Provide volunteer or work trial opportunities for job experience. Sta support provided Individuals:
• Mentor individuals by teaching job skills and so -skills
• Donate monetarily or with services to support clients in their interview and employment endeavors
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest
1912 N Division, Suite 100 • Spokane, WA 99207
WHAT WE DO
509.328.8310 nwbigs.org joinus@nwbigs.org
Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We match at-risk youth with volunteer adult mentors. e relationships developed through mentoring have positive e ects that span a lifetime and beyond. Our mentors build self-esteem, serve as positive role models, and foster a brighter outlook for our kids. Mentors are professionally screened and trained, and all matches receive ongoing professional support to guide positive relationships. More than 40 kids are waiting to be matched with the right mentor right now!
Young people want to shape the world, Camp Fire provides the opportunity to nd their spark, li their voice, and discover who they are. We want all youth to thrive! Camp Fire owns and operates Camp Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur d’Alene and Camp Dart-Lo in North Spokane. Youth can learn and grow at our camps and school-year programs where they develop leadership skills and have the opportunity to just be a kid while in an inclusive and outdoor environment.
GET INVOLVED
A donation from $25 to $25,000+ will make a di erence in shaping young lives. Our 20th Annual Nurture Our Nature Fundraiser and Auction is a great way to show your support by attending. Call us to discuss estate planning or major gi s.
e City Gate exists to Reclaim, Rebuild and Restore, Lost and Broken Lives, transitioning from homelessness
e City Gate was initially formed as a church to serve the homeless and low-income of inner-city Spokane. Over the years we have become more holistic adding a client choice food bank and clothing bank, a social drop-in center and 28 low-income studio apartments, including 2 emergency shelter rooms. We now serve breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Friday for anyone in need.
GET INVOLVED
Donations of all kinds are always welcome to support our clients. Donations of seasonal clothing, non-perishable food and paper products, co ee, and cash all of which will go to support those we serve. Cash donations may be made on our website or directly via PayPal or Venmo.
Our mission is to protect children and strengthen families. We envision every Washington child thriving safely, healthily, and supported by family and community.
Our agency supports children and youth by providing safe, loving, temporary homes through foster care. We focus on keeping siblings together, honoring diversity, and supporting reuni cation with families. When you become a foster parent, you help children stay connected to their families, schools, and communities, o ering them stability and hope.
GET INVOLVED
Be the Way Home! Become a foster parent, o er respite care, specialize in speci c needs, volunteer, donate, or advocate. Make a di erence today!
509.747.8091 gsewni.org WHAT WE DO
Girl Scouts of Eastern WA & Northern ID is a local non-pro t organization with the mission to build girls of courage, con dence, and character who make the world a better place.
Girl Scouts of Eastern WA & Northern ID is the pre-eminent leadership organization for girls. rough innovative programming in STEM, outdoors, nancial literacy, the arts, activism and advocacy, and life skills, Girl Scouts gives girls the opportunity to discover, connect and take action. We are girl-led, girl-inclusive, and girl-driven.
GET INVOLVED
$30 could provide a girl with a year of Girl Scout membership $50 could out t a girl with a uniform $175 could send a girl to day camp for a week
e mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Prepare boys and girls to become responsible, participating citizens and leaders guided by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. is will be achieved through skill development, social development, personal growth, and physical health in the outdoors.
GET INVOLVED
Attend one of our fundraising events:
• Fire ‘n’ Ice Gala (February)
• Golf Classic (May)
• Sporting Clays (September)
• Buy popcorn during the popcorn season (August - November) to Fund Your Scouting Adventure
Rent a camp!
e Inland Northwest Council is proud to o er our three camps to the public. Each property has ample space for unit campouts, family reunions, company events, weddings, and more. Each unique lodge includes a dining hall, full-service kitchen. Each camp has cabins, campsites, RV space and boat slips and boat rentals.
• Cowles Scout Reservation located on the shore of Diamond Lake
• Camp Grizzly located along the Palouse River
• Camp Easton located in Gotham Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene For reservations, pricing, or questions, call 509-242-8235 or email marcia.hunt@scouting.org
DONATE
Support our youth with your Time, Talent, Materials and Donations. All donations and sponsorships help us to provide a world class experience for our LOCAL youth. Scouting teaches young men and women how to be great leaders.
e Jonah Project is an educational 501(c)3 serving survivors of sex-tra cking through preventative education, direct advocacy, and emergency relocation. Believe it or not, sex-tra cking is rampant in the Inland Northwest. Survivors of sex-tra cking need resources e Jonah Project o ers, and we need funding to continue these services. We provide avenues for ALL people to have access to receive trauma sensitive and transparent services; our team specializes in both remote/mobile and in-person case management. Beyond meeting tangible needs, we o er support and guidance, working one-on-one with victims to help them make the best choices for themselves. ere is no other local team that comes close to the quality of care our team executes. Since 2014, our team has changed the lives of over 500 victims. Please see our social media for survivor testimonials.
Highlights of our services:
• Tangible needs for victims such as food and hygiene supplies
• Survivor-led, individualized care plans
• Immediate and compassionate communication
DONATE
• Long-term case management with no leverage
• Help accessing local resources including transportation
• Homeland Security approved Community Prevention Trainings
Right now, we are at risk of limiting our services due to lack of funding. Donations support DIRECT victim needs:
• $100 monthly supports basic necessities
• $250 monthly covers disability, medical and vehicle needs
• $500 monthly supports transition to independent living
• $1000 monthly supports emergency relocations
• We currently have an open campaign for $15,000 for a 2025 grant writer. Please support!
GET INVOLVED
• Volunteer as a self- guided and proactive fundraising lead ( exible hours)
• Schedule us to train your sta , school, business or group.
• Seeking a professional grant writer
• Everyone can make a life-saving di erence because education is the #1 PROVEN best way to prevent sex-tra cking
208.345.9474 Idaho.wish.org idaho@idaho.wish.org
With the help of the community, Make-A-Wish® Idaho grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses throughout the state of Idaho. Our goal is to grant every eligible wish in Idaho.
Make-A-Wish Idaho typically grants four types of wishes: A wish to have (a shopping spree, a treehouse) a wish to go (to Disney World, Hawaii), a wish to be (a cowboy, a ballerina) or a wish to meet ( e Rock, Dolly Parton). e purpose of these wishes is to create hope and joy in a time of anxiety and isolation. Although wishes aren’t curative, they do provide a much-needed emotional boost during a frightening time. It should be known that most of the children we serve live well into adulthood, many even recover completely from their battles with cancer and other illnesses. However, children who face life-threatening ailments are at greater risk of short- and long-term emotional problems like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, loneliness, post-traumatic stress disorder as well as behavioral and learning issues. According to the latest studies, wishes improve overall emotional wellbeing, act as a coping mechanism, and are sometimes the turning point during treatment.
Local Dollars Help Local Kids
Aven, of Coeur d’ Alene, was facing two big surgeries that would improve the quality and quantity of his life. However, undergoing surgery is always frightening, especially when you’re a child. He had to spend his entire summer vacation at home, separated from his friends and the outside world. Aven didn’t want to be alone during this di cult time and asked Make-A-Wish® Idaho for a golden retriever puppy to keep him company during his long convalescence. He picked one out online and named her Hope. At the beginning of the summer, a volunteer in a blue Make-A-Wish t-shirt arrived at his door with a puppy under her arm. “It’s Hope!” Aven exclaimed.
Around y percent of the wishes we grant, are wishes to go to Disney, and the average cash cost of a Disney wish for a family of six is $10,000. Your donations help us ensure that wishes are granted when the child needs it the most.
VOLUNTEER
Our volunteers are at the heart of every wish experience. MakeA-Wish volunteers consider their work impactful and meaningful. And, their e orts are rewarded—not in dollars or cents, but in the incredible di erence they make in the lives of our wish kids.
SPONSORED BY PACIFIC MORTGAGE CENTER
Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington
104 S. Freya St, Yellow Flag Bldg #207 • Spokane, WA 99202
DO
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. It’s our vision to grant an equitable wish to every eligible child, but we need your help!
More kids than ever are waiting for wishes partly because we don’t have all the resources needed to ful ll their wishes. Your hard-earned dollars will be put to good use as wishes have proven physical and emotional bene ts that can give children with critical illnesses a higher chance of survival.
DONATE
• Wishes are like a prescription that doctors can’t write and pharmacies can’t ll. But with your help, Make-A-Wish can.
• Make a one-time or a monthly gi .
• Register to attend our Happiness Hour event on Nov. 7.
• Host an online fundraiser for wishes while celebrating your birthday.
100% local & privately funded through donations, Meals on Wheels Spokane provides food, support, and human connection to homebound Spokane seniors.
Meals on Wheels Spokane provides so much more than a meal. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, we provide hot meals, human connection, and support to homebound seniors and their pets.
DONATE
$5 provides one meal for a homebound senior.
$35 feeds a senior for an entire week.
$0.89 cent of every dollar donated supports Spokane’s homebound seniors.
MiA Mujeres in Action
318 E Rowan Avenue Suite 208 • Spokane, WA 99207
509.869.0876 miaspokane.org info@miaspokane.org
MiA advocates for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault, helping them reach their full potential and educating our community from a Latine perspective to end family violence. MiA’s Main Programs:
• Mente y Corazón: WA State certi ed victim advocates provide crisis intervention, safety planning, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, case management, resource navigation, and licensed Behavioral Health facility. e work is survivor-led and trauma informed while meeting participants where they are.
• Puerto Seguro: MiA’s mobile housing advocates support survivors with navigating and securing emergency, transitional, and/or permanent housing for people eeing DV/SA in Spokane. We leverage our strong partnerships with housing programs and private landlords to help stabilize families who are homeless/at-risk of homelessness. Currently, MiA is planning the development of our own housing project, known as Casa MiA.
• ComUnidad y Acción: MiA’s policy advocacy team. Advocating for survivors rights, addressing barriers within the systems and building community power.
• JiA - Jovenes in Action: MiA’s youth prevention program. A Community-Based, Public Health Approach to Strengthening Protective Factors and Preventing Violence and Harm for Latine Youth Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Resilience.
DONATE
Your donation can help us provide essential services to survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Every contribution makes a di erence. To donate, please visit www.miaspokane.org
GET INVOLVED
Eradicating violence from our communities is collaborative work. We welcome volunteers, donors, and partners to participate in the work towards a community free of violence: Opportunities include:
• Participating in community events
• Tabling with us during community events
• Provide support to survivors
• Engage in power building through policy advocacy
Join us for MiA’s 2nd annual gala, Sequins and Velvet: Rompiendo
North Idaho College is committed to meeting the diverse educational needs of students, employers, and the communities of northern Idaho.
NIC Foundation, Inc. is an independent, non-pro t charitable organization. rough contributions and prudent stewardship, the NIC Foundation provides scholarships for students and invests in programs and services to enhance educational excellence and student success at North Idaho College.
GET INVOLVED
Make a contribution today! Gi s of any size make an incredible di erence in providing scholarships for students as they pursue education and training.
NIPA is a nonpro t organization of LGBTQIA+ people, allies and community groups working together to create a more inclusive North Idaho.
e North Idaho Pride Alliance envisions a safe and inclusive community where LGBTQIA+ individuals belong, can connect and are empowered to thrive in North Idaho. We will accomplish this through Networking, Educating, and Advocating with the help of our amazing volunteers and supporters.
DONATE
Every dollar helps! Donate $10, $25, $50, or more to the North Idaho Pride Alliance and help ensure the rights of all LGBTQIA+ Idahoans. Together with strong community partnerships, NIPA can help hundreds of North Idahoans live authentic lives where they can thrive and access the critical life-saving resources they need.
With integrity, ParaSport Spokane will provide training, recreational, and competitive opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities that promote success, self worth and independence. ParaSport Spokane uses adaptive sports as a catalyst for life.
We are a growth focused community providing sport and recreation for youth and adults with physical disabilities and vision impairment. We are a zero cost for participation program and provide access to equipment and training.
Our programs: Strength & Conditioning, Wheelchair Basketball, Para Track and Field, Sled Hockey, Swimming, Fencing are open to all ages. Our Futures Play Group is open for toddlers and young children with mobility impairments.
We host weekly training opportunities as well as the Spokane Showdown Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and the Pine Cone Track and Field Classic.
Our member athletes experience so many barriers to participation in various aspects of life. We have a goal to support as many athletes as possible and need your help.
Give the gi of access to sport and recreation, equipment, and competitive experiences for as little as $5. Our fundraising initiatives support 100% of athlete training and competition costs, o en supporting athlete meals and nutritious snacks. ere are many opportunities including ongoing monthly, annual, or one time donations via the QR Code, our athletes greatly appreciate all donations and support.
GET INVOLVED
ere are many ways to support our programs. We need volunteers for weekly programming, coaching, events, and fundraising initiatives. We are seeking event sponsors to support and o set facility and competition costs and our annual fundraiser Pairing with ParaSport Spokane in January. Our ever growing network of ParaSport Spokane Champions are telling more people about who we are and what we do. Give us a call to nd out how you can help.
Partners with Families & Children
509.473.4810
www.partnerswithfamilies.org Partners@partnerswithfamilies.org WHAT WE DO
106 W. Mission Avenue • Spokane, WA 99201 GET INVOLVED
Our mission is to prevent, interrupt and repair cycles of abuse and neglect within families.
Partners provides mental health services, substance use disorders treatment and parenting classes for parenting adults and the children in their lives. rough our Children’s Advocacy Center, Partners is a safety net for abused and neglected children with the ability to provide holistic supportive services like medical exams, forensic interviews, and child legal advocacy.
• Donate funds today or give monthly
• In-kind donations
• Follow us on social media
• To learn more visit www.partnerswithfamilies.org
Passages’ Recovery Through the Arts
1700 S. Assembly Road, Ste. 300 • Spokane WA 99202
Participation in Passages’ Recovery rough the Arts programs gives adults and youth an opportunity to re-channel overwhelming and challenging emotions.
e program utilizes a wide variety of visual and performing art mediums:
Painting
Sculpture
Woodwork
Photography
Music
GET INVOLVED
Passages accepts donations, as well as art supplies, and we utilize volunteers. If you’d like more information, please contact us during business hours from 9-5PM Monday- ursday and 9-Noon on Fridays.
Project Beauty Share
509.455.3537 projectbeautyshare.org development@projectbeautyshare.org WHAT WE DO
2718 E. Sprague Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202 DONATE
Project Beauty Share is a 501(c)(3) non-pro t agency that provides personal hygiene, cosmetics, and beauty products to nonpro t organizations that serve women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness, and poverty to help restore hope and dignity in their lives.
We are a pass-through agency that collects, sanitizes, and distributes these items to over 120 other non-pro t organizations in the Inland Northwest including Catholic Charities, Partners INW, Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission Crisis Centers, HRC Ministries, Partners with Families and Children, Idaho Youth Ranch, and many more.
• Host a hygiene drive. For details, contact us via the email address above
• Donate funds or supplies directly to Project Beauty Share
• Purchase Hygiene supplies via Amazon Wishlist
Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane
509.209.2384 ricspokane.org rics@ricspokane.org
Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane supports and empowers refugee and immigrant communities by providing services, fostering community bonds, and advocating for refugee and immigrant rights in the Inland Northwest.
At RICS, refugee and immigrant families nd opportunities to connect with community and become self-su cient. We support this process through case management, city tours and resource navigation, enrichment programs for youth and Elders, and activities that support social and emotional health.
We welcome volunteers for English tutoring, driving lessons, assisting our youth program, and o ering peer support.
Passages’ Recovery Arts through the
Safe Passage
Responding to and educating to prevent violence in North Idaho since 1977.
Safe Passage is the largest agency in North Idaho and one of the largest in the state, providing free and con dential support, resources, and crisis intervention for adults and children a ected by violence. Programs include 24-hour helpline and text services, emergency safe shelter, court advocacy, licensed trauma-informed counseling, sexual assault/intimate partner violence and child abuse victims Hospital Response and intervention services 24/7/365, forensic trauma-informed interviews for children of abuse, prevention education to middle and high schools students, bystander intervention training on college and university campuses, Bars Training at restaurants and bars, as well as family advocacy and support for children a ected by violence. In the last few years, we have experienced over 10% growth in every aspect of our program o erings. While Safe Passage works every day to meet these growing needs, we are struggling to do so. Our temporary shelter is at capacity daily, with shelter intake screens doubling and our transitional housing is growing. We see a child every day that has been impacted by abuse as Law Enforcement and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare refers these families to us. As our community continues to grow so does violence, our safe shelter has steadily been at capacity providing a haven for those eeing violence. Will you help? Supporting Safe Passage directly supports survivors, gives them and their children, safety, and stability, and helps them look to the future with resilience and HOPE. Your generous gi transforms lives today and for generations to come!
Financial Gi :
$100 provides a survivor with a comprehensive safety plan
$200 provides counseling for a child who has experienced abuse
$500 provides a semester of materials for school presentations
$1000 provides a survivor eeing violence with one month’s rent
Volunteer: Contact us at admin@safepassageid.org or visit our website at safepassageid.org/get-involved to learn how you can get involved.
Advocate: Tell those in your life that Safe Passage is here 24/7 and ready to help. You never know when someone you care about may need us.
Safety
WHAT WE DO
Net InlandNW P.O. Box 13706 • Spokane Valley, WA 99213 VOLUNTEER
Safety Net is the helping hand for our local teens and young adults who have aged out of Foster Care. ese foster teens need to know someone is out there who will help unconditionally with their most basic needs. ey need time to nish growing up. Safety Net is that support. We meet them where they are. With us, they understand that we care and want nothing more than to see them succeed in life.
You can help future foster teens aging out of the foster care system by: 1. Making a cash donation or donate gently used household items.
2. Use AmazonSmile for your online purchases. Set Safety Net Spokane as your bene ciary organization. 3. Encourage your o ce to hold a fundraiser.
509.533.9966 silverspursyouthfolkdancers.org silverspursspokane@gmail.org WHAT WE DO
Begun in 1947, Silver Spurs Youth Folk Dancers broadens the world view of K-12 grade students by teaching them traditional folk dances of 40 plus cultures and countries from around the world. rough learning and performing the dances, songs and traditions, students from the greater Spokane area grow to appreciate the similarities and di erences of world cultures while increasing their strength, coordination and co-operative skills. eir skills, experiences, and friendships remain valuable assets throughout their lives. Instructors and costumers donate their time.
Donations of all amounts can be made for: dancer scholarship(Red Henderson Scholarship Fund), rehearsal space, traditional folk wear storage/care/replacement, sound equipment, general administrative needs.
Thrive International
110 E. 4th Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
rive International is empowering multicultural communities to THRIVE.
rive International is based in the rive Center downtown Spokane—a 90 room facility that provides a ordable housing, programs to empower women and youth, and educational workshops for over 2,000 newly arrived refugees from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Congo, and many other nationalities.
GET INVOLVED
Our newest neighbors need friends and partners like YOU to help them thrive! Visit our website to learn more, donate, or volunteer: www.thriveint.org 509.553.5606
3128 N. Hemlock Street • Spokane, WA 99205
509.328.6702 help4women.org info@help4women.org
Transitions works to end poverty and homelessness for women and children in Spokane. We pursue this mission through the operation of six unique programs in the area.
Educare: A childcare center where children experience growth and resilience while receiving high-quality individualized care as families recover from homelessness & poverty.
Home Yard Cottages: Provides a ordable, permanent supportive housing units for homeless families and individuals in 24 cottages.
Miryam’s House: O ers transitional housing to 10 women experiencing homelessness, encouraging recovery & stability through wrap-around supportive services.
GET INVOLVED
DONATE
Transitional Living Center: Provides transitional housing with supportive services for women & children experiencing homelessness in 16 units, creating safety & stability for up to 2yrs.
New Leaf: O ers on-the-job barista training, individualized support, and vocational services to help individuals achieve stability & selfsu ciency.
Women’s Hearth: A downtown drop-in day center o ering a safe space for women experiencing poverty, trauma and/or homelessness to nd community, respect, classes, social service referrals, & case management.
Volunteer: Fight poverty with your own two hands by volunteering at Transitions! Learn about volunteer opportunities: help4women.org/volunteer
When you give to Transitions you’re investing in the growth and wholeness of the women and children served. Working to end poverty and homelessness for them is a lo y goal, but with your support, our mission is accomplished each day, week, or month, one person at a time.
Join us this fall for our 22nd Annual PEOPLE WHO CARE EVENT OCTOBER 15, 2024 • 12:00PM - 1:00PM at the Davenport Grand Hotel https://help4women.org/pwc2024/
WE DO
Since 1951, Union Gospel Mission has partnered with the Inland Northwest to provide a pathway out of homelessness. What began as a soup kitchen in downtown Spokane has expanded into a comprehensive ministry spanning two states and including four shelters, three recovery programs, three transitional housing complexes, three thri stores, an automotive enterprise, and a summer camp for underprivileged kids.
$32 for 3 meals and a bed
$224 for a week of shelter, food, and care
$365 for a week of holistic recovery
87% of every gi goes toward program services.
Women & Children’s Free Restaurant & Community Kitchen
WCFR is a vital safety net lling nutritional gaps for women and children in need while fostering dignity and respect, within our restaurant and in the community.
At Women & Children’s Free Restaurant & Community Kitchen, we believe that access to not just food but healthy food is a basic human right. We serve women, children, seniors, and teens who struggle with nutrition insecurity and poverty stemming from various root causes. Now in our 36th year, we are a two-time AGORA award recipient for nonpro t excellence. In March 2020, we made a transformative shi to address our community’s growing need for nutritional support. Since then, we have provided more than 5 million meals to our community.
We also prepare and deliver nutritious meals to organizations throughout our community, working collaboratively with agencies providing housing, DV support, childcare and protection, job training, and LGBTQ+ support. ese unique partnerships connect our most vulnerable citizens with basic needs for improved quality of life.
Please consider donating or volunteering with us. Together, let’s ensure that no woman or child goes hungry in our community.
DONATE VOLUNTEER
• Fresh Protein - $2,500
• Fresh Dairy - $1,000
• Fresh Produce - $500
• Breakfast for Kids - $250
• Package & Delivery - $100
Give online at wcfrspokane.org/donate
• Curbside meal and grocery distribution team member
• Kitchen team assistant or meal packager
• Food inventory team member bag & stock food
Learn more at wcfrspokane.org/volunteer
AgWest Farm Credit presents Dinner on the Farm, a taste of farm life celebrating 36 years of service to women & children. SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 • 6:00-9:00 PM For more information, visit: farmdinner.org
Women Helping Women Fund
3704 N. Nevada Street Suite 201 • Spokane, WA 99207
WE DO
509.328.8285 whwfspokane.org info@whwfspokane.org
Empowering Spokane area women and children to achieve their full potential, by building a strong, diverse community of engaged, and strategic givers.
Together, we make the greatest impact. With your help, WHWF has invested over $7 million to support local women and children. rough our Giving Circle, members pool their funds to make a larger impact than they could alone. We provide members with meaningful ways to give back and build community.
Become a Giving Circle member with a gi of $25 or $50/month. Your gi funds grants to local nonpro ts and scholarships for mothers balancing childcare and tuition. No events or meetings are required. Get involved in ways that work best for you.
$1 to Partners INW provides roughly 10 meals
$25 to Elevations helps with a copay for a child’s therapy appointment
$50 to 2BU Ranch sponsors a youth for six weeks
$100 to Stop the Silence provides a complete “Go” bag to a domestic violence victim
SCAN TO DONATE NOW!
World Relief Spokane
11707 E. Sprague Avenue Suite 106 • Spokane, WA 99204
509.484.9829 worldrelief.org/spokane wrspokane@wr.org WHAT WE DO
We partner with the local community to welcome refugees and provide the wraparound services they need to rebuild their lives.
Working alongside churches and other community organizations, World Relief guides refugees through job searches, school enrollment, accessing community resources and more. We envision a thriving, welcoming city in which individuals experience restorative relationships together and have facilitated hundreds of lifelong friendships.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteer: Between being a refugee’s friend, setting up apartments, transporting new arrivals...there are many ways to support refugees in Spokane!
Donate: Donate household goods or give nancially
YMCA of the Inland Northwest
1126 N. Monroe Street • Spokane, WA 99201
509.777.YMCA (9622) ymcainw.org jzumbro@ymcainw.org WHAT WE DO
We give everyone a safe place to learn, grow & thrive by strengthening the foundations of our community through healthy living, youth development & social responsibility.
e YMCA is addressing major challenges facing our community, including:
• Lack of childcare and early learning which impacts children’s potential and parent’s ability to remain in the workforce
• Signi cant health disparities which increase the risk of illness for more vulnerable groups
GET INVOLVED
Your donation helps ensure all families in our community can access high quality childcare and every individual can pursue their health journey regardless of their nancial constraints. Make a di erence today at ymcainw.org/donate
Provide free, con dential services for individuals and their children who are impacted by domestic violence, poverty, homelessness, & unemployment.
For over 120 years, YWCA Spokane has worked to disrupt cycles of violence and strengthen communities by working to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
OUR SERVICES:
• 24hr DV Helpline & Emergency safe house
• Supportive services for survivors of DV, including safety planning, housing and legal support, and mental health therapy
• Free women’s clothing boutique
• Job readiness, skill development & healing classes for women
• Free preschool serving eligible children & their families
• Community education & prevention classes
DONATE
Together, we can create a sustainable community where everyone is able to live with dignity & respect. Your gi helps a survivor of domestic violence nd hope, safety, stability, & success.
Give A One-Time Gi or Become a Monthly Donor: You can help meet the immediate needs of women, men, and children eeing violent relationships. Consider making a gi in your will: Your gi can ensure a future of dignity, empowerment, & justice while planning for your own.
Save the date for the 2025 Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon on March 14th, 2024! For more information, visit: ywcaspokane.org/woa
Back to Their Roots
As she takes the lead at River City Youth Ops, Kate Burke hopes to reinvigorate the organization where she got her start
BY E.J. IANNELLI
For Kate Burke, stepping into her role as the executive director of River City Youth Ops this June marked the start of a new phase for herself and the organization.
“When I saw the job description, I realized that this is something that truly brings me joy,” she says. “Working with young people, community building, networking and working for something that you believe in is super important to me.”
The sense of purpose and positivity that the position offered were especially important to Burke. Her time as a Spokane City Council member was still fresh in her mind; the burnout from that experience had led her to step away from elected office after her first term ended in 2021.
She followed that with a short stint as a grant writer before upping sticks and driving across the United States with her girlfriend — now wife — Sarah. After making it to Florida, the pair sold their car and took off for Central and South America, where they could savor the culture and polish their Spanish.
More than just an opportunity for exploration and self-edification, the year of travel was a chance for Burke to ground herself and rediscover her priorities. And what she found was that, looking back, her direct involvement with youth-focused community organizations was a deeply fulfilling period of her life.
Which is why her arrival at River City Youth Ops is also a kind of homecoming.
Before adopting its current name in 2017, River City Youth Ops was Project Hope Spokane. Officially founded in 2008 by Pat and Connie Malone, the organization began as a way to get teens in the West Central neighborhood engaged with agriculture through the farming of urban plots and selling their produce.
Two years later, Burke joined Project Hope as a staff member.
once a week. And it was amazing,” she says. “So when I got back [to Spokane] after moving to another city, the first thing I did was ask to join the board because I loved the organization so much.”
Her board service came at a “really vital time,” Burke says, as Project Hope was then growing beyond the Malones’ stewardship.
HOW TO HELP
“The board worked really hard to align themselves together, to create a mission, and really move forward on that,” Burke says. “We were able to give it a new direction, a new mission, a new vision. During that time, there was a really great infrastructure for the programs and for the organization.”
To learn how to get involved, volunteer with the bike bus or donate, go to youthops.org. The organization’s annual “Harvest Dinner” fundraiser is set for Oct. 3 at Inland Pacific Kitchen.
“I got to work with the youth through the summer program and create the market space that we hosted
But as Project Hope scaled up, choosing the name River City Youth Ops to reflect its new image, there were growing pains.
After Burke had termed off the board, she observed “transition periods” where “the foundation began to
Kate Burke is working to rebuild River City Youth Ops. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
NORTHWEST BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION is seeking proposals from certified micro-lenders, economic development and/or workforce development companies, or technical assistance providers that will utilize the award funds to support business development outcomes through micro-lending programs, entrepreneurial training/incubator space, scholarships to students, or workforce development among any or all of the following targeted populations:
• Veterans
• Women
: Northwest Business Development Association | Give Guide Main : Give Guide- Main : GIVE Full pg : TM
• Minorities as defined by SBA
• Youth ages 18-24
• Individuals with Disabilities
• Underserved areas
Note: One or more successful applicants may be awarded up to $50,000.00 in grants to carry out the above-mentioned work. The grant is non-renewable and during the period of project NORTHWEST BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION will require quarterly outcome reporting to evaluate the impact of the investment through economic development and jobs creation.
“BACK TO THEIR ROOTS,”
crack a bit.” The organization drifted from its roots in urban gardening and its tight focus on 12- to 18-yearolds in West Central. That evolution put a strain on its resources, which in turn impacted later board and staff efforts to course correct.
Now that she’s been tapped to lead the organization, Burke is working to realign River City Youth Ops with its original scope and mission. She’s been busy developing and updating policies, recruiting new board members and reconnecting with the organization’s support base.
“In my first 30 to 40 days, I spent a lot of time going back through the history of the organization and reaching back out to folks who were a part of it, whether it’s being on the board, a past participant, a past donor or one of our past partners,” she says. “Through that, I ended up doing a survey to all of those folks to ask them where they see us going and where we could do better. And I got some really great information from that. What I found is that one of our strong suits as an organization is our longevity in the community.”
As if to underscore that longevity and the lasting relationships, this past weekend Burke held an informal reunion for past participants, partners, donors and board members. She’s also moving the organization’s offices back into their former home in Salem Lutheran Church.
And when she sought to augment the board with more financial expertise, she deliberately reached out to Bakari Green, a former youth participant and Whitworth University grad who now works as an accountant.
But even with all these nods to the organization’s history, Burke is looking to its future. She recently brought on Chelsea Hardenbrook as the new operations manager. While the two strategize how best to relaunch the nonprofit’s core summer program, they’re laying the groundwork for a new fall program called the West Central Bike Bus.
That initiative will create a bike group and safe route for students at Holmes Elementary School, Yasuhara Middle School and North Central High School. Burke acknowledges that it’s not centered on agriculture, but it will still provide neighborhood youth with a chance to interact constructively and benefit their community at the same time.
“What really resonates [with our participants] is what we teach them through our programming,” she says. “Things like team building, communication skills, exposure to different things, learning how to work, learning how to navigate kind of different systems and the world that’s out there. That’s what they carry with them.” n
PARTNERS INW
The number of people requesting food from Partners INW, previously called Spokane Valley Partners, has increased by about 370% in the last five years, says Calvin Coblentz, CEO of the nonprofit organization.
Partners INW is a lead agency for Spokane County’s food pantry network, which is made up of almost two dozen food pantries. Using funds from the Washington Department of Agriculture, the organization distributed 2.5 million pounds of food last year.
The increase in need, Coblentz says, still has a lot to do with the fallout from COVID and resulting rent increases. Higher monthly rents are squeezing budgets and making it harder to pay for groceries.
“It’s food insecurity pushing up into the middle class,” he says.
Partners INW changed its name last October to better reflect how much of the area the Spokane Valley-based nonprofit serves. It serves 17 counties in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, helping everyone from infants to seniors. In addition to food, Partners INW also distributes clothing — about 1 ton a week — through free clothing banks, and it’s the only diaper bank in the region.
Partners INW’s staff members have access to a wholesale network to buy diapers on the cheap, which is one of the ways they’re able to double or triple the impact of dollars donated to their programs. But they’ll always accept physical donations from anyone who wants to buy at retail price or host their own fundraising drive. They also rely on hundreds of volunteers each year to move pound after pound of food and clothing.
The organization also recently bought the Ziggy’s Home Improvement store on Sprague in Spokane Valley, which will be renovated in 2026. The 65,000-square-foot warehouse will allow Partners INW to become an even more effective regional distribution center. Anyone hoping to donate to those renovation efforts can get in touch with Terri Fortner, director of philanthropy, at terrif@partnersinw. org, or Coblentz at calc@partnersinw.org.
— ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Volunteer your time
• Be an English tutor for Refugee and Immigrant Connections
• Host a hygiene drive for Project Beauty Share
• Coach athletes with Parasports Spokane
• Teach job skills and soft skills with Artisans
• Help with housekeeping or yard work with Hospice of Spokane
Partners INW provides many necessities, from diapers to pantry items. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARTNERS INW
Pets • Wildlife • Public Lands • Environment
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
2BU Youth Ranch
How To Give
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
509.994.1167 2buyouthranch.org tobeuyouth@aol.com
Our mission is to help youth grow into healthy adults as they nd faith, healing , hope and trust with horses.
2BU Youth Ranch mentors at risk youth from our community, while teaching basic safe horsemanship. We teach responsibility, life skills and healthy friendships during 90 minute sessions once a week. We provide a safe and positive environment for everyone to reconnect with the family. Our program is o ered free of charge.
$50 Sponsor a Youth for six weeks
$220 Donate cost of 1 Ton Hay (delivered and stacked)
$350 Adopt a Horse for one month
$2,100 Adopt a Horse for 6 months Donate In Kind Items such as Senior Feed, Horse Treats, Water & Treats for Youth.
CatTales.org
Our Mission is simple yet profound: Wildlife Rescue, Compassionate Care, and Education Ambassadorship - Serving the Inland Northwest and beyond - Since 1991
Cat Tales provides lifelong refuge to non-releasable wildlife and exotic animals, ensuring their well-being through compassionate care. We also serve as education ambassadors, raising awareness about wildlife rescue and fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world.
Volunteer where needed most to support our mission. Donate to fund animals’ needs. Join educational programs for wildlife and conservation awareness.
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
222 N. Havana • Spokane, WA 99202
TEACH GROW PROTECT
WHAT WE DO Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County
e Foundation provides nancial support to the Master Gardener Program of Spokane County. We’re celebrating our 50th anniversary of educating the public about sustainable gardening practices.
*Our award-winning Plant Clinic is sta ed by Master Gardener volunteers, providing free-of-charge, research-based information. It’s located at 222 N. Havana in the WSU Extension Spokane County building. You can also call (509.477.2181) or email (mgardener@spokanecounty.org). e Plant Clinic is open weekdays, March-Oct, and is also at the Shadle & Cheney libraries.
• Our Waterwise Garden is open to the public to demonstrate drought-tolerant plants, drip irrigation and various types of mulch.
• e Community Gardens Project teaches community members how to grow their own food in community gardens throughout the city.
• e Youth Program is active in a er school programs teaching children about growing their food and environmental stewardship.
• Master Gardeners also teach classes to the public.
GET INVOLVED
• Utilize the Master Gardener Plant Clinic
• Buy plants at our Garden Fair in late April
• Buy bulbs at our sale in October
• Apply to become a Master Gardener
Spokane Audubon Society
P.O. Box 9820 • Spokane, WA 99209
audubonspokane.org info@spokaneaudubon.org WHAT WE DO
e Spokane Audubon Society advocates for birds and their habitats in the Inland Northwest and connects people with nature
We are a local, volunteer-run, grassroots environmental conservation organization. We share the National Audubon Society’s commitment to protecting birds using science and in uencing policymakers, but we focus on local conservation and education issues in eastern Washington.
GET INVOLVED
Join us on one of our free bird walks, monthly education meetings, or community events to learn more about birds. Volunteer by joining our Save-A-Bird team that transports injured or orphaned birds to skilled wildlife rehabilitators; habitat restoration planting work parties; bird surveys including our annual Christmas Bird Counts; nestbox building, placement and monitoring; and other projects. Donations and membership dues support our Save-A-Bird work, habitat protection and restoration, and environmental education.
Master Gardener Annual Bulb Sale Fall 2024
Attend a charity event
• ARC of Spokane - Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser
• BIg Brothers Big Sister - Reaching New Heights Gala
• Mijures in Action - Sequins and Velvet: Rompiendo Barreras Gala
• Transitions - People Who Care Event
• Volunteers of America - Eye Contact: Art Exhibit
Letting Kids Be Kids
The Childhood Cancer Coalition eases the disease’s burden on Inland Northwest families, one kindness at a time
BY E.J. IANNELLI
On Meagan Glubrecht’s right forearm is an unmistakable tattoo. It’s a golden orange ribbon crossed in the recognizable loop of cancer awareness. Alongside it is an abbreviated date that represents June 6, 2021, the day her son Oliver was born.
Three months before his third birthday, Ollie was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer in which a type of white blood cell grows out of control. In healthy individuals, these white blood cells are indispensable to the body’s immune system, helping fight infection. When a mutation causes them to go rogue, however, they displace bone marrow and seep out into the blood.
Ollie’s diagnosis came on the heels of months of uncertainty.
Doctors initially told Glubrecht that Ollie’s worsening lethargy, pallor, cold sweats and labored breathing likely stemmed from something simple and transient — a “childhood virus,” she says.
how many cells were in his marrow,” she recalls.
B-cell ALL, as it’s often called, is a relatively common form of childhood cancer, affecting roughly 1 in 1,750 children. But statistics like that come as scant consolation to families with a child who’s been diagnosed with the disease.
HOW TO HELP
For Glubrecht, Ollie’s formal diagnosis only led to more questions about the course of treatment and how their lives would change from that point on. As a single mother of two, she wondered how it would be possible to balance everyday responsibilities with the care regimen that Ollie needed.
Go to cccnw.org/how-you-can-help to learn how to volunteer, to help families by buying items from their wish lists, or to donate. The nonprofit’s “Light the Way” gala is Sept. 28 at the Spokane Convention Center.
It wasn’t until one health care professional happened to take a more skeptical view of those assessments that medical teams were able to correctly identify the cause of Ollie’s symptoms. Almost before Glubrecht had time to process the news, she and Ollie were rushed to Sacred Heart Medical Center for a bone marrow draw.
“They couldn’t even get a full syringe because of
Soon, though, a hospital social worker introduced her to Denise Moss of the Childhood Cancer Coalition. Glubrecht found Moss to be a vital source of knowledge and empathy for the tribulations of childhood cancer, especially in the early days.
When Ollie had to have his nasogastric tube inserted to administer medication, “Denise actually stood with me because I couldn’t stay in the room with him,” she says. “She held me and talked to me and gave me as much
support as I could possibly ask for, because she’s gone through it herself.”
Moss can be found at Sacred Heart providing support to kids and parents on behalf of the Childhood Cancer Coalition every weekday. On weekends and holidays, you’ll find Lindsay Morgan. Coalition Executive Director Leslie Woodfill says both women are special resources because of their innate compassion.
“They get it,” Woodfill says. “They understand the fear that these parents are going through. They’ve seen their children go through it and what that looks like for a child who experienced a cancer diagnosis.”
That firsthand experience can be invaluable, even for parents like Glubrecht who have a large family support network.
“You can talk to someone who hasn’t had cancer and they’re like, ‘Well, we feel for you,’” Glubrecht says. “But when you have a person who has gone through what you’re going through, they can help you step by step with what they’ve actually done.”
The coalition’s support takes many forms. Sometimes Moss or Morgan will drop in with a blanket or toiletries
Meagan Glubrecht and her son Ollie are thankful for help from the Childhood Cancer Coalition. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO ...continued on page 28
Powered by some seriously delicious brownies, Beacon Hill’s expertise in catering and event planning helps nonprofits level up fundraisers
The delicious signature brownies from Beacon Hill Catering & Events have been perennially popular items at area fundraisers — not just for eating, but for auctioning! In fact, a single brownie platter once garnered a winning bid of more than $2,600.
Thanks to the popularity of those decadent treats, co-owner Ellie Aaro estimates that Beacon Hill’s brownies have helped local nonprofits raise around $350,000 over the past 20 years.
Yet brownies certainly aren’t the only way that Beacon Hill has contributed to the success of nonprofit events in that time. Through their business, Aaro and her team have o ered tailored, end-to-end event planning and catering services to organizations of all sizes, from school booster clubs to nationally recognized charitable foundations.
“We have great bandwidth and a long history of experience in catered events,” she says. “One of our main priorities is to understand the mission of the organization and figure out how catering would amplify their messaging and the event experience.”
When SNAP and the Ronald McDonald House wanted to host fundraisers in a convenient luncheon-style format, Beacon Hill came up with a concept that Aaro describes as a “hybrid plated meal.” It features a gourmet, scratchmade box lunch that guests could enjoy within the timeframe of their lunch breaks in a central downtown location. The flexible format proved a hit.
The family-focused nonprofit Vanessa Behan, on the other hand, was looking to give a distinctive spin to its annual Cheers for Kids event. Beacon Hill has delivered by partnering with local breweries to create one-of-a-kind food and beer pairings that make for a truly “special and memorable” occasion, Aaro says.
“It’s an event that’s unique to them, one that you can’t go to anywhere else in Spokane.”
Beacon Hill has even helped transport fundraiser
guests to a region in Italy that’s famous for its wine and cuisine. As the dinner and venue sponsor for the YWCA Spokane’s annual An Evening in Tuscany benefit event, Beacon Hill provides a Tuscan-inspired menu and atmosphere that routinely draws compliments for months afterwards. For the past two years, donors set new fundraising records for a cause they love at Beacon Hill.
As Beacon Hill’s reputation for excellence has grown among the nonprofit community, so too have its expertise and resources. Longstanding professional collaborations with other award-
A Shining Example
winning partners, such as Barrister Winery, enable Beacon Hill Catering & Events to dial in every single aspect — meals, libations, music, location, you name it — according to its clients’ vision.
“We’re dynamic and versatile, so we work really hard to keep things fresh and solve problems creatively, whether it’s a budget, a location or a time constraint,” Aaro says.
“In that way, we’re like the glue that pulls an event together.”
JOYA
Joya Child & Family Development has dedicated 64 years to serving families with young children who have disabilities and delays. The organization takes a holistic approach to pediatric therapy services, which include speech and physical therapy, autism screening and diagnosis, hearing screenings, and cognitive therapy with developmental therapists.
Since 2014, Joya has seen a 73% increase in the number of children who qualify for its services. Qualifying starts with a referral from Spokane Regional Health District, neonatal intensive care units, primary care physicians or early learning programs such as Head Start. Joya then begins an initial assessment to determine the level of delay the child may have and if its pediatric therapy services are appropriate.
The increased demand has led Joya to adapt to the needs of the Spokane community with new services such as a dietitian to ensure newborns thrive with nutritional plans. The organization has also grown, and in May 2022 it moved into a new 42,000-square-foot, two-story facility at 1016 N. Superior St. in Spokane’s Logan neighborhood. Because of its larger space, Joya can provide services to more families than ever.
Joya Executive Director Colleen Fuchs is
“LETTING
KIDS BE KIDS,” CONTINUED...
and a change of clothes. Other times they’ll slip a coffee card into a weary parent’s hand or entertain a child with an iPad as they undergo painful treatment. They’ll also stop by and chat with the patients as their parents step out of the room for a moment.
“It gives them a chance to take a break and just breathe, where they’re not having to keep a brave face on for their kid,” Woodfill says.
In some cases, the Childhood Cancer Coalition (formerly called the American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest) will temporarily cover a family’s utility bills or grocery costs. The organization also puts together field trips and activities to help foster a sense of community among the families with this shared experience. During the winter holidays, there is a tradition of “adopting” families to ease their
excited but also shocked at the demand since the expansion of services at its new location.
“The goal was to serve twice as many children and families within seven years of moving in,” Fuchs says.
In just two years Joya exceeded that goal.
She points to the greater demand stemming from the complex social needs of children due to prenatal drug exposure and food and housing insecurities for families.
According to Joya, 50% of the program’s graduates reach age-appropriate milestones, ranging from speech accomplishments for those with developmental delays to learning to walk for children with cerebral palsy or who’ve had strokes.
Fuchs says the new community space isn’t exclusively for those seeking services for a child with a delay or disability: Any family with young children can experience and benefit from Joya’s new space.
“They’re just open for any family who has a child under 5 to come and play,” Fuchs says.
The benefit is that children with and without disabilities can develop better socialization skills, new friendships, and more acceptance for other kids as they move into grade school.
— VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ
burden and restore joy to the season.
“To bring peace and hope and light to a family and a child who are experiencing cancer, I think it’s a really good way to be a part of our community and make a difference,” Woodfill says. “What we try to keep giving [families] is an opportunity where kids can just be a kid and parents can just be a parent.”
To Woodfill, Ollie exemplifies why the Childhood Cancer Coalition continues to live out its mission. He’s not a child defined by a disease; he’s a 3-year-old who loves swings and sticker books and playing with his pet Indian Runner duck named Sonchi.
“He’s the epitome of a kid who just wants to be a kid, and he’s got this dang cancer diagnosis,” she says. “But he’s not letting it dim his spirits.” n
Joya staff help kids with disabilities and developmental delays.
Foundations • Patient Support • Health Education • Advocacy Groups
How To Give
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
House NW 4118 S. Cook Street • Spokane, WA 99223
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
509.863.2197 ah-nw.org bjohnson@ah-nw.org
Ashley House provides comprehensive, cost e ective, quality care to medically fragile children, teens, and young adults in home-like settings.
When a critically injured or ill child leaves the hospital, they may still need complex medical care. At Ashley House, a child receives skilled nursing care while the family prepares for their child’s homecoming at a much lower cost than a hospital.
Brandy told us “ e twins were both born with a genetic disorder; they were in the hospital for months. When the doctors said they could be discharged to Ashley House, I was scared. ey were both so tiny; I had never held them; their big sisters had never gotten to play with them. and I had never heard of Ashley House. What kind of place was it? Everything changed at Ashley House. I got to hold both my boys at the same time. eir sisters were welcome at the house too. I learned how to care for by boys special medical needs, while they became stronger day by day, until the day they came home!”
At Ashley House, we believe that every child deserves to live the best, fullest life possible! We give each child the care they need while their family prepares to take them home. For a few who need ongoing care, Ashley House becomes home, but for most of the children and youth in our care, Ashley House is a step on their journey to the rest of their life!
Visit our website to donate or scan the QR code provided to go directly to a donation page for our Spokane program!
VOLUNTEER
Maybe you love to rock an infant, dance with a toddler, or read to a child. For more information contact us a msmith@ah-nw.org
For
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
611 N. Iron Bridge Way • Spokane, WA 99223
WHAT WE DO CHAS Health Foundation
509.444.8888 chas.org foundation@chas.org
e mission of the CHAS Health Foundation is to create health equity by strategically investing in patients, partners, and communities.
2024 marks CHAS Health’s 30th anniversary, evolving from a two-exam-room clinic in downtown Spokane to a major provider of primary care services for the region. CHAS Health is a non-pro t, federally quali ed health center that provides high quality medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health services to families and individuals of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay.
e CHAS Health Foundation plays an important role in advancing the mission of CHAS Health and tackling health disparities within our community. rough the generous support of our donors, we are able to meet the diverse needs of our patients and the broader communities we serve. Whether it’s providing individual patient assistance beyond the scope of CHAS Health or partnering with community organizations to address Social Drivers of Health (SDOH), the CHAS Health Foundation is dedicated to creating a healthier, more equitable community.
If you have questions about the CHAS Health Foundation, it’s work and mission, or making or designating a donation, please email us at foundation@chas.org or call us at 509-444-8888 and ask for the CHAS Health Foundation.
“The Foundation has played a crucial role in enhancing the School-Based Health Program. Since our partnership with the Foundation, each SchoolBased Health Center (SBHC) now boasts an outreach closet stocked with essential hygiene products, school supplies, and ready-to-eat snacks for students in need. This initiative ensures that students have access to necessary resources, promoting their overall well-being and academic success while promoting the SBHC as a welcoming place for students.”
-Daniel Trautvetter, School Based Health Program Manager
Greatest Need
Addresses urgent and emerging needs.
Patient Support
Removes nancial barriers for individual CHAS Health patients in need of treatment, medical equipment, or other critical health related needs outside of the services CHAS Health provides.
Health Equity Programs
Supports CHAS Health initiatives that directly impact targeted communities. Examples may include:
• School-Based Health Centers
• Homelessness and Street Outreach
• Refugee and Immigrant
• Women and Children
Rual Community Support
Donors may elect to keep their contributions local by supporting one of the following funds:
• Cheney
• Deer Park
• LC Valley
• Moscow (Latah)
“The funds from the Foundation have helped numerous patients who would have had extensive wait times for completion of a procedure that has been causing pain and infection.”
- Dr. Elisabeth Warder, DDS CHAS Health Dental Director
GET INVOLVED
By donating to the CHAS Health Foundation, you are investing in access to quality healthcare for any community member in need, regardless of their situation.
As a donor, you have the exibility to direct your support to the funds that resonate most with your philanthropic interests.
Provide women in need with professionally tted bras in a fun and caring environment.
We achieve our mission by partnering with organizations in the greater Spokane and inland Northwest community to hold monthly events where we reach women of all ages and diverse backgrounds, complete a professional bra tting, and send each woman home with new 2 bras, a garment bag, care instructions, and new found con dence.
VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEER as a tter or helper and see the di erence a tted bra makes!
Cancer Care Northwest Foundation
509.228.1019 ccnwf.org foundation@ccnw.net
CCNWF is a non-pro t organization that helps Inland Northwest cancer patients and their families through educational, emotional and nancial support.
e CCNWF o ers limited nancial support for basic necessities such as transportation, prescriptions, groceries and rent, counseling for children and families, and community resource referrals. e CCNWF also supports the advancement of cancer research.
DONATE
Your donation helps ensure that Inland Northwest cancer patients and their families have the support they need throughout their journeys with cancer. To make a donation, please visit www.ccnwf.org or text CCNWF to 44321
Elevations: A Children’s Therapy Resource Foundation
325 S. University Road Suite 203 • Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Elevate children with special needs by funding necessary therapies they need to thrive. In 2023, Elevations funded therapy and bought equipment for 265 kids in Spokane.
e weight of realizing that your child’s future may not be a ordable is a tremendous burden to bear. Elevations provides funding for e ective, evidence-based therapy services and special home therapy equipment for children with special needs.
DONATE
Any donation can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
At Embrace Washington, we believe every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment. rough our Halo Program, we are committed to bridging funding gaps, ensuring that no child’s health or well-being is ever compromised.
e HALO Program (Healthcare Assistance for Little Ones) supports foster children with complex medical needs in Eastern Washington. HALO lls funding gaps by o ering custom mobility solutions, sensory devices, and critical medical equipment, ensuring these children lead safer, healthier lives.
Your donation to HALO through Embrace Washington is a lifeline, providing critical medical resources that transform lives. With your support, we ensure vulnerable children have the opportunity to thrive and lead healthier, happier lives.
Gildred’s Garage at Excelsior Wellness is a cutting-edge vocational program dedicated to training youth and young adults in electric vehicle technology. Our mission is to reduce environmental impact and promote community health through sustainable transportation solutions.
By empowering the next generation with the skills to innovate in green automotive technologies, we’re paving the way for a cleaner, brighter future. With your support, Gildred’s Garage aims to become a premier center for sustainable automotive education, helping to create a healthier planet for all.
VOLUNTEER
Donations to Gildred’s Garage are fundamental in providing students with the tools, safety gear, and uniforms they need to succeed. We also gladly accept in-kind donations of uniform coveralls, gently used tools, and volunteer time. Every contribution directly impacts the quality of our program, helping prepare the next generation for careers in sustainable technologies. Join us in shaping a brighter future for our youth and community
At FailSafe for Life, our goal is not easy, but it’s simple. We want to end suicide attempts and deaths in our community. We provide life-saving education that equips our community to recognize and respond to someone having thoughts of suicide. We host events that promote connection, and we provide activities that instill hope.
• Sign up for one of our upcoming trainings.
• Sign up to volunteer at our next event.
• Purchase items o our Amazon Wish List or from a local store that we can use to promote hope.
• Donate funds to be used to purchase items to support our upcoming activities.
Hospice Of Spokane
509.456.0438 www.hospiceofspokane.org WHAT WE DO
GET INVOLVED Northeast Washington’s long-standing nonpro t hospice, serving anyone of any age with any terminal condition through a holistic approach to end-of-life care.
Hospice of Spokane focuses on ensuring patient comfort and supporting quality of life. From delivering specialized care right in the home day or night, to around-the-clock phone support and grief counseling for family members, we are here for our patients and their family.
Hospice volunteers help in a variety of ways, such as providing companionship to a patient, helping with light housekeeping or yard work, meal preparation, playing a musical instrument or singing; helping in the o ce with mailings or other o ce tasks, or helping with one of our community or fundraising events throughout the year. Background check is required, and training is provided.
• Go shopping at Global Neighborhood Thrift
• Donate your gently used seasonal clothing to The City Gate
• Purchase items from Failsafe For Life’s Amazon wish list
• Donate diapers to Mission Outreach Community Center
NAMI Spokane (National Alliance for Mental Illness)
152 S. Je erson Street Ste. 100 • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.838.5515 | Text: 509.209.3905 namispokane.org o ce@namispokane.org
NAMI Spokane provides free mental health support and education to those who are living with a mental health condition. We also teach concerned partners and family members how to help.
NAMI Spokane serves Eastern Washington and surrounding communities. We empower people to live their most ful lling lives as we build a stigma-free tomorrow.
NAMI Spokane is your local a liate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. anks to donors and volunteers, we provide education and support at no cost to the public. So, people in need can begin rebuilding.
NAMI Spokane’s free education courses, support groups and advocacy forums are run by trained sta members and volunteers. ese sta members and volunteers have experienced mental health conditions themselves or have a family/friend member a ected by a mental health condition. ey bring to each session a deep, intimate understanding of related challenges and have uncovered many personal paths to healing.
Welcome to a community who “Gets It.”
DONATE
$25 Resource hotline support for 3 calls
$50 Support group session for 1 adult and family members
$100 Mental health educational training for 1 group leader
NAMI Do-It-Your-Way
Create your own fundraiser to support NAMI Spokane! It’s super simple. For more information, visit: nami.org/get-involved/fundraise-your-way/start-a-fundraiser/
e NATIVE Project is a non-pro t health facility that provides medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, patient care coordination, wellness, and prevention services for both Natives and Non-Natives in the greater Spokane community. We serve ALL people. Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurances are accepted. You will not be charged your insurance co-pay if you provide proof of tribal enrollment/ descendency.
e NATIVE Project’s Service Delivery Philosophy is a patient centered care model that embraces action, education, culture and spirituality on the road to healing and wellness. Our team commits to providing patient centered care that includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness and healing. Services will be o ered through the practice of “Sacred Hospitality”.
Our philosophy has roots in the medical model of disease prevention, treatment and management that is solution based in the recovery oriented model of care, including drug free lifestyles. We utilize the highest level of care using evidence based and promising practices to promote healing and wellness in individuals, families, sta , and communities.
GET INVOLVED
Everyone can be a patient here. Be informed, go to our website, NativeProject.org, and subscribe to our email list, follow us on social media and check out our events calendar. Join our circle of care, where using one team and one voice, individuals, sta , families and agencies will utilize skills, leadership, cultural and spiritual consciousness to give back to his or her community by living as:
WARRIORS, NURTURERS, SCHOLARS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
Northwest Autism Center
528 E. Spokane Falls Boulevard # 14 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.328.1582 nwautism.org info@nwautism.org
We exist to build, facilitate and coordinate comprehensive services for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities using community-based approaches.
e CDC reports the prevalence of ASD is 1 in 36 children, with an estimate of 48,000 children a ected in Washington State. Northwest Autism Center utilizes multi-disciplinary care to provide holistic and individualized treatment options. Our vision is to promote the worth of every individual, ensuring access to early diagnosis and treatment; best practices in public education and healthcare; and the social supports necessary for optimal personal growth and meaningful participation within family and community.
What we o er:
• Free screenings for ASD
• Family navigation by a PEER certi ed specialist
• On-site, remote and in-home consultation and therapy
• Occupational therapy, speech & language therapy and ABA
• Augmentative & alternative communication device support and picture exchange communication expertise
GET INVOLVED
• Evidence-based practices and progress reporting
• Schools and community trainings
• Skills and recreation programs for teens and adults
• Care collaboration with community health teams
Donate: Philanthropy is a critical element of meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved. You are invited to participate in the work of providing services, advocating for resources and building inclusion through a monthly or one-time donation.
Community Events: Join us for the annual Steps for Autism 5k awareness event in April or participate in the annual Giving Tree, purchasing and wrapping gi s during the holidays for those with autism and other developmental disabilities living in residential homes.
Volunteer: Support youth and adults at our Skills & Recreation Center. We are looking for people who have a passion for making a positive di erence and helping us create a safe and inclusive environment for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
We provide exceptional reproductive and complementary health care services, honest education, and fearless advocacy for all.
For over 55 years local people have been turning to Planned Parenthood for the resources they need to be healthy, plan their families and futures, and achieve their dreams. Your support will:
Help over 40,000 people annually get the health care services required to plan their families.
Advocate for comprehensive sex ed in our community so youth have the knowledge they need to be healthy, safe, and plan their futures.
Ensure reproductive freedom is protected for everyone during unprecedented attacks on these civil rights.
“As a cancer survivor, my visits to Planned Parenthood help provide peace of mind in addition to health care that is a ordable and attainable. ey genuinely care about my mental health just as much as my physical health.” — Taylor D., Spokane patient
GET INVOLVED WHAT WE DO
DONATE Your generosity will ensure everyone in our community can receive the care they need. No matter what.
TELL YOUR STORY The best way to promote, practice, and preserve comprehensive reproductive health care and overcome stigma surrounding these services is to share our stories.
VOLUNTEER The gift of your time and energy is invaluable in the fight to protect and advance reproductive rights.
BECOME A PATIENT Receive expert health care from our providers and support the services we provide to our community.
Providence Inland Northwest Foundation funds projects and programs to help ensure comprehensive, compassionate health care for all in Spokane and Stevens counties. Your generosity helps us care for the most vulnerable in our community and supports breakthrough technology that saves lives.
“ ank you to all the people who are donating. You’re saving lives. You saved mine,” patient, who went through oncology treatment in a remodeled infusion center, made possible through generous donations.
In 2023, the Foundation distributed:
• $453k Patient families received help with transportation, medication, utilities and basic necessities.
• $3M State-of-the-art medical equipment was purchased for patient care.
• $1.9M Donors supported a wide range of vital patient programs. With donor support, we help fund everything from art supplies for the art therapy program to a $1 million surgical robot to ensure stateof-the-art technology in our hospitals.
DONATE
• $50 could help provide patients support for transportation, housing, and other non-medical needs.
• $100 could give our nurses scholarships and training opportunities to empower learning and develop new skills that help reduce stress and burnout.
• $250 could help purchase infusion chairs for patients with cancer to provide a more comfortable care experience.
• $1,000 supports leading-edge technologies and new treatment methods to ensure our patients have the clinical excellence they need, close to home.
• Follow Your Heart: Stay connected for an exciting announcement about our next fundraising project in 2024!
SAN - Spokane AIDS Network
715 E. Sprague Avenue #115 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.844.1758 sannw.org support@san-nw.org
SAN provides support and services to those living with HIV, their families, and the greater 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Our services include peer navigation & support, outreach services, HIV prevention & testing, weekly food pantry, holiday boxes, HIV HOPWA & Ryan White housing support, emergency nancial assistance, monthly support groups, SAN/PRIDE Community Center, safe space events & so much more!
Our events include: September: Spokane AIDS Walk, Red Dress Party, December: World AIDS Day, Holiday Boxes, March: Red Ribbon Gala, April: Drag on Ice, June: Big Gay Dance Party, Spokane PRIDE.
GET INVOLVED
SAN needs your help! Volunteer your time or talents, donate to support our programs or attend an event! Visit our website to stay informed!
READ THE GIVE GUIDE Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
PICK UP YOUR PHONE Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
Shriners Children’s Spokane
911 W. 5th Avenue • Spokane, WA 99204
WHAT WE DO
509.252.3370
shrinersspokane.org
william.gross@shrinenet.org
Shriners Children’s Spokane’s experienced orthopedic pediatric specialty care team brings hope and healing for children in WA, ID, MT, AK, & Canada, and other U.S. & international locations.
Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. ey inspire us to continue our mission of improving the lives of children and families. We understand the unique medical needs of children by providing vital, pioneering treatment from birth to age 18. At Shriners Children’s Spokane, children have the opportunity to be evaluated and treated by doctors recognized as the best by their peers.
We have a team of physicians and specialists who have the highest training and education in pediatric orthopedics. is team is equipped to treat children with a variety of di erent orthopedic conditions ranging from mild to complex. Other specialties you will nd at our facility include orthotics and prosthetics, scoliosis spine and treatment, sports medicine and fracture care.
In addition to providing care at ve outreach clinics in the region, Shriners Children’s Spokane is part of an international pediatric healthcare system of hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and global outreach.
In Spokane, we provide wrap around care to our families, o ering a full range of programs, services and support, all in-house, caring for children in a welcoming, warm, reassuring environment.
At Shriners Children’s, we never stop looking for ways to enhance the quality of life for children.
Our entire team is committed to nding ways to improve children’s lives, give them the resources and determination to succeed and encourage them to have faith in their dreams.
GET INVOLVED
We are grateful for donations of all sizes which help us provide out specialty care to the kids who need us. Stewardship is one ofour core values. Scan the QR Code to nd out how you can help! Approximately 85% of all funds spent by Shriners Children’s annually is dedicated to patient care, research, and education.
Shriners Children’s Spokane is celebrating 100 years of providing amazing care to kids and their families, regardless of their ability to pay. Our mission has remained the same since 1924!
Your gi can help us provide:
$50 helps us ve a birthday party to an inpatient!
$100 funds our 3-D printer supplies for patient activities!
$250 can fund a wheelchair!
$500 Funds patient outings, sports medicine rehab equpment!
Scan the code to learn how to make your gi today!
Easing the Shift from Summer to School
As summer winds down, it’s time to prepare for the new school year. And whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time school parent, the back-to-school shuffle can feel overwhelming.
From crucial health checks to lunchbox hacks, families can navigate the transition smoothly and ensure a healthy, productive start for students by incorporating these back-to-school tips:
Health and Safety First
Many school sports programs require a wellness exam or sports physical before participation. Because of this, you will want to schedule your child’s sports physical early.
During these exams, doctors assess height, weight, blood pressure, vision, and overall physical condition. For athletes, particular attention is paid to joint and muscle strength and flexibility. The doctor may also discuss diet, exercise, and other lifestyle issues, as well as any gear your child will need to protect from injuries while playing a sport.
“Ensuring children’s health as they return to school is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being. Regular check-ups, updated vaccinations, and healthy habits lay the foundation for a productive and safe school year,” says Dr. Cicely White, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente Veradale Medical Center in Spokane. For efficiency, often you can also combine the sports physical with a regular wellness exam.
Nutrition Planning
Healthy school lunches are foundational to your child’s performance. Plan weekly meals based on your prep time and the school menu. “Find foods from each food group that your child likes. Don’t worry if your child only likes one vegetable or one or two kinds of meat. Children accept new foods gradually,” says Dr. White.
You may also want to consider stocking a drawer with grab-and-go snacks like yogurt, fruit cups, and whole-grain options to make lunch packing easier for both you and your kids.
Adjusting to New Routines
Going back to school means adopting new routines. Establishing a consistent bedtime can help children adjust. Try to gradually move sleep times to match school-night bedtimes
“Adjusting to new sleep schedules is essential for children’s physical and mental health. Consistent sleep patterns help kids stay focused, energized, and ready to learn,” advises Dr. White.
For parents juggling varying schedules, communication and organization are key. Use shared calendars, delegate tasks, and create a command center for school notices and important documents.
Remember, flexibility and patience are crucial as you set the stage for a successful school year. With proper preparation and a positive attitude, you can help your children thrive throughout the school year.
Helping Youth Thrive
When kids age out of the foster system, Safety Net Inland Northwest is there to help
BY NATE SANFORD
Aging out of the foster care system can be incredibly traumatic. Kids turn 18, and all of a sudden, they’re completely on their own. No home. No job. No money. No support network.
“There’s no backup for these kids. There’s no family that they can rely on or anybody they can reach out to,” says Coleen Quisenberry, co-founder of Safety Net Inland NW. “If they don’t have some way to have somebody care, they’ll fall through the cracks and feed the homeless system.”
Between 2016 and 2021, roughly 20% of foster care youth in Washington experienced homelessness within one year of leaving the foster system, according to data from the state Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Years ago, Quisenberry had wanted to become a foster parent and was surprised to learn about the limited support network for kids
Safety Net Inland NW founders Coleen Quisenberry (left) and Molly Allen (right) pose with former KREM meteorologist Tom Sherry at the nonprofit’s 2023 auction.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAFETY NET INLAND NW
aging out of the system. So, in 2009, she decided to start Safety Net Inland NW as a nonprofit to help provide foster kids everything they need to thrive once entering adulthood. She founded the nonprofit with her friend Molly Allen, who was a co-host of the wellknown Inland Northwest radio show “Dave, Ken and Molly” until June this year.
“We help them with the things they wouldn’t necessarily be able to take care of without going into a tailspin,” Quisenberry says.
Safety Net has two warehouses — one in Spokane and one in Post Falls. When kids become adults and age out of the system, they can visit one of the warehouses to shop for free and pick up whatever items they might need for their first apartment: dressers, coffee tables, chairs, sofas, pots, pans, paper towels, soap, lightbulbs, vacuums and more. Safety Net also buys a bed for each young adult leaving the system.
system. The state wouldn’t pay for it because it was considered cosmetic surgery, so Safety Net covered the bill.
Quisenberry doesn’t have an exact number, but over the years, she estimates that Safety Net has helped thousands of young adults.
HOW TO HELP
Donate directly to Safety Net
Inland NW and sign up to volunteer by going to safetynetinlandnw.org or calling 509-863-9431.
As youth adjust to life in the outside world, Safety Net supports them in a variety of other ways. For example, if they have to miss work because they’re sick, and they fall behind on rent, Safety Net will help them catch up on bills.
Depending on the need, the organization will also provide bikes, computers, bus passes and groceries — basically everything someone might need to adjust to life as an adult when they don’t have money or a support network.
Quisenberry recalls one young man who lost his front teeth in a car accident when he was in the foster
Earlier this year, the Washington Legislature expanded services for foster youth ages 18 to 21 who are no longer eligible for the usual foster services. The program started rolling out this summer. Quisenberry says she’s glad the state is taking action, but that the need she’s seeing is still higher than it’s ever been. Because of inflation and higher rents, the number of kids coming to her nonprofit for help has increased significantly over the past two or so years, she says.
People don’t always realize how traumatic it can be to leave the foster system, Quisenberry says. She’s talked to children who have been through as many as 30 different homes.
“These kids come out without any real life skills,” Quisenberry says. “How to balance a checkbook, how to open up a bank account… Unfortunately, no one has taken the time to teach them life skills.”
Safety Net only has one part-time employee — everything else is managed by volunteers. The work is hard, but Quisenberry says hearing from youth who’ve managed to thrive makes it worth it. She hears from former foster youth she helped who went on to become doctors, restaurant managers, flight attendants and more.
“They’re coming back and saying, ‘Thank you, I wouldn’t have had a life,’” Quisenberry says. “We were the difference between homelessness or them getting out there and making their own way.”
Quisenberry recalls one young woman who came to Safety Net last spring to drop off furniture at the warehouse for a used furniture drive. The woman said she was moving out of state with her husband and two children, and had extra furniture to drop off. Quisenberry didn’t recognize her at first, but while loading items out of the truck, the woman reminded her.
“‘You don’t remember me, but you guys gave me my first bed, and you helped me furnish my apartment 10 years ago,’” Quisenberry recalls the woman telling her. “‘Now I’m married, I’ve got a job, I have two kids… You guys made all the difference in the world to me.’”
Those are the stories that drive Quisenberry to keep going.
Safety Net is always looking for volunteers and donations, Quisenberry says. The organization accepts donations of furniture and other items, as well as money. On Sept. 14, the organization is holding its “Fostering Flight” auction at the events hangar at Felts Field. There will be vacation-themed prizes and activities, and people are encouraged to show up in Hawaiian shirts to help raise money for kids in need.
“If anybody has any complaints about homelessness in Spokane, they need to step up and help make a difference,” Quisenberry says. “By helping Safety Net help these kids, we can all help turn the faucet off — they’re just running like water into homelessness if they aren’t helped.” n
AHANA
The multiethnic nonprofit AHANA, short for Asian, Hispanic, African and Native American, helps underserved and underrepresented communities of color achieve business success.
AHANA has grown since its founding in 1998 by expanding its services for multiethnic business owners, including financial literacy help, business counseling and management training. These services can range from QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel training to business certification workshops and guidance in applying for grants or business loans.
With the help of a $100,000 donation from Washington Trust Bank and a $1 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from Spokane County, the nonprofit was able to buy a building to expand its services. AHANA’s new location is at 327 E. Pacific Ave. in the University District and was celebrated with a ribbon cutting in July.
getting started. Multiple organizations and community groups provide on-site mentorship on topics such as navigating potential contract bids and how to scale up a business.
For many small-business owners, there’s a learning curve to reading financial statements and understanding how to run a business productively, says Marvo Reguindin, AHANA’s executive director.
“A lot of our businesses start because they found either a niche or a need because they’re very good at what they do, but they never really imagined that they would go into business,” Reguindin says. “So they didn’t go to business school.”
He believes the new facility is also a safe place for the culturally diverse business community. It can feel overwhelming and unwelcoming being a person of color in a predominantly white space.
gifted small grants of up to $10,000 to businesses it serves to fund various one-time purchases, including marketing materials, new computers or other needs to scale up their business.
“We took 30% of the full million-dollar grant and gave out $300,000 in grants to small nonprofit organizations to help them also expand,” Reguindin says.
The future is bright for AHANA, and Reguindin would like to see the nonprofit someday obtain even larger office spaces to expand its business incubator program and lease space to new businesses. Reguindin says he’s happy to see economic development leaders and local governments collaborating with AHANA, and looks forward to further collaboration.
The building includes incubator offices, where business owners can have space to operate from while
“We have a training center and an incubator center that allows us to provide services in a more safe and friendly environment,” Reguindin says, “because our BIPOC businesses may not feel safe downtown.”
With the ARPA funds, the organization recently
The AHANA Board of Directors is volunteer-run, and the team regularly looks for new members with leadership experience or seeking to gain that experience who understand the mission and values of AHANA. Apply by contacting ahana.meba10@gmail.com and providing a letter of interest, resume, and two client or employer references.
— VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ
AHANA’s leadership celebrated moving into a new building this year. PHOTO COURTESY OF AHANA
The Arts • Sports • Neighborhoods • Faith-Based • Social Services
How To Give
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
American Red Cross, Greater Inland Northwest
315 W. Nora Avenue • Spokane, WA 99205
WHAT WE DO
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
e American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human su ering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
Our Northwest Region brings together local volunteers to care for their neighbors, trains hundreds of thousands of people each year in life-saving skills and responds to local disasters. We shelter, feed and provide comfort to people a ected by disasters; supply about 40% of the nation’s blood supply; teach skills that save lives; distribute international humanitarian aid; and support veterans, military members and their families. e humanitarian work that we do at American Red Cross would not be possible without our volunteers. In fact, 90% of the Red Cross’s workforce is made up of volunteers. We have a variety of disaster relief volunteer opportunities available, as well as potential positions focused on facility management, health and safety, Service to the Armed Forces, and more. By volunteering with the Red Cross, you join a network of as many as 275,000 volunteers in about 230 chapters across the U.S. who support the Red Cross mission of preventing and alleviating human su ering in the face of emergencies.
GET INVOLVED
Getting involved with the Red Cross is easy. We o er a variety of opportunities such as blood drives, disaster relief, and monetary donation drives. We want to ensure that you’re prepared in an emergency do we o er classes in CPR, AED, babysitting, nursing, and rst aid. We serve the people, businesses, and communities of Chelan, Douglas, Gran, Okanogan Ferry, Lincoln, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Whitman Counties in Washington; and Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, Benewah, and Shoshone counties in Idaho.
VOLUNTEER, DONATE
Visit redcross.org/donate to make a nancial gi and make a di erence in someone’s life Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Red Cross. Join us at redcross.org/volunteer Disaster Action Team volunteers help local families cope with emergencies. Join us. redcross.org/dat
Home res claim seven lives every day. Join the local Red Cross this spring to install free smoke alarms in homes in our community. To lean more, visit redcross.org/nwhome re
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
The Blue Door Theatre
319 S. Cedar Street • Spokane, WA 99201
509.747.7045 bluedoortheatre.org info@bluedoortheatre.org WHAT WE DO
We are dedicated to the advancement of improvisation, the performing arts, and community building through innovative entertainment and education.
e BDT is Spokane’s only improv theatre. We o er a safe space for all ages to explore creativity, build con dence, and connect with others through performance, workshops, and community-focused programs. Programs include Youth Improv League, BIPOC Improv, QueerProv, Improv in Prisons, and more.
GET INVOLVED
• When you volunteer, you see shows for free and get 25% o classes
• Become a front sta volunteer
• Donate to our youth programs
• Attend a show
• Take an improv course with our School of Improv
• Visit our website and learn more
509.557.0179 carlmaxeycenter.org cmc@carlmaxeycenter.org WHAT WE DO
e Carl Maxey Center (CMC) is a neighborhood cultural center, gathering place, and community based non-pro t organization located in the East Central neighborhood of Spokane.
CMC provides programs and services focused on addressing the needs of Spokane’s African American/Black community. Our mission is to inspire, empower, upli and advocate for the Black/African American community by focusing on economic development, education, racial equity, justice, and cultural enrichment.
A donation to the Carl Maxey Center provides support for one of our current programs including the Sandy Williams Justice Center, Eviction Prevention, Black Business Support and Development, Digital Equity and Community Resource Navigation. Donations may also be designated to support the remodel of CMC building which is a cultural hub and gathering space in the East Central neighborhood.
12 E. 5th Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT
509.358.4250
Volunteer Contact Info 509.625.3535 cceasternwa.org volunteering@cceas ternwa.org
CCEW empowers Eastern Washington : compassionately serving and upli ing communities through holistic care, safe housing and equitable paths to health and wellbeing.
Since 1912, our legacy of service to our community has rooted itself in our call to feed the hungry, heal the hurting and welcome the stranger. rough collaborative partnerships with parishes, businesses, government and nonpro t organizations in Eastern Washington, we advance innovative programs that bring hope to our clients.
VOLUNTEER
Help us create an Eastern Washington where everyone can thrive. For volunteer opportunities, please email volunteering@cceasternwa.org
DONATE
To support programs and services that help members move toward healthy and stable lives, please visit: cceasternwa.org/donate.
e Catholic Charities Foundation was established in 2005 to invest funds to support the programs and services of Catholic Charities Eastern Washington.
By putting Catholic Charities or the Catholic Charities Foundation in your will, you will be joining our Legacy Society, which allows you to create a lasting impact in the lives of those in need in our community. Remember, your legacy can be a testament to your compassion and generosity, ensuring that your values and beliefs continue to make a di erence long a er you are gone.
GET INVOLVED
Please consider a gi of personal property, IRA, stock, insurance and or inclusion in your will/ estate to the Catholic Charities Foundation. Please contact Ann Marie Byrd, Director, Catholic Charities Foundation at 509-358-4266 or annmarie.byrd@cceasternwa.org.
Childhood Cancer Coalition
202 E Spokane Falls Blvd Ste 301 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.995.5431 cccnw.org leslie@cccnw.org
We support local children and their families who are battling a childhood cancer diagnosis, o ering nancial, emotional, and practical support, education, and advocacy.
e Childhood Cancer Coalition is unwavering in its dedication to supporting local children diagnosed with cancer and their families. Our mission is to provide comprehensive resources to ease the burdens faced during such a challenging time. We o er nancial assistance for medical and household expenses, ensuring families can focus on their child’s health and well-being.
We provide emotional support through support groups, and connecting to other families who have had experience with similar cancers. ose connections provide hope. We believe no one should face the emotional turmoil of a cancer diagnosis alone.
Educational resources are a cornerstone of our mission, helping families understand cancer treatment, navigate the healthcare system, and advocate for their child’s needs.
Your support allows us to continue this vital work, providing hope, enhancing lives, and bringing normalcy during tumultuous times. Together, we can ensure no child or family ghts cancer alone.
DONATE
Please consider making a donation to our mission. We have opportunities to support by roundup, one time donation and monthly donations. See our website at: https://cccnw.org/about-us/#donate
READ THE GIVE GUIDE Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
Christian Youth Theater Spokane
3901 E Main Avenue, Suite A • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.487.6540 cytspokane.org o ce@cytspokane.org
CYT Spokane aims to serve our community by providing quality, educational theater arts programs and productions at an accessible price to all interested families.
We believe in validating and celebrating the artistic expression and hearts of our youth in a safe, compassionate environment. Unfortunately, ticket sales and tuition cover only a portion of our operating budget. We need loving, service-minded donors who believe in our mission to partner with us.
GET INVOLVED
Every dollar contributed assures that CYT will continue to deliver top-notch a ordable programming to all who need it. Please consider joining us as we continue to develop character one stage at a time.
Companions Animal Center (CAC) is an independent, nonpro t 501c3, non-government privately funded organization dedicated to the welfare of animals. We practice the No-Kill philosophy.
Formerly Kootenai Humane Society, CAC has been serving homeless and unwanted animals for over 44 years. O ering low-cost medical services like a spay/neuter clinic, vaccinations and microchipping for your pets, adoptions, and a safe haven for unwanted animals are just a few of the ways CAC supports our animal population. CAC is open Tuesday – Sunday at noon.
By volunteering your time, sharing your good fortune, or o ering your home to a pet, you will help continue our lifesaving mission for years to come.
We elevate and empower immigrants and refugees as leaders, using international cuisine as a platform for economic resilience, holistic growth, and culture-sharing.
We embody this mission through our social enterprise restaurant and catering company in downtown Spokane – where we host a di erent Chef Partner Family every day – we are open to the public Wed-Sun for lunch & dinner! Since 2019, we have helped people build skills, become leaders, and share culture!
GET INVOLVED
Dine with us - food sales support the family who cooked your meal! Donate - we rely on grassroots nancial support from community members like you! Volunteer - From helping wipe down tables in the dining room to helping a single mom from Syria nd a ordable housing, Feast volunteers are everyday heroes! Start the conversation by emailing volunteers@feastworldkitchen.org!
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Since 1987, Habitat-Spokane has built, rehabbed, and sold over 400 a ordable homes.
Families empowered to help themselves: Habitat for Humanity is a partnership — families help build and renovate their own homes alongside volunteers and community partners. A er completing the program, they BUY their home and pay an a ordable mortgage.
GET INVOLVED
SHOP - DONATE - VOLUNTEER. With your support, we can tackle the a ordable housing crisis in Spokane County. Shop at the Habitat Store. Donate goods or funds. Volunteer and help build a ordable homes!
Together, we create opportunities that change lives and strengthen communities, through employment, training and education, housing support, and nancial stability programs.
We say TOGETHER, because our employees, program participants, donors, shoppers, and community partners all play a role in the work and mission of Goodwill.
Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest began changing lives in eastern Washington and north Idaho in 1939. We help people reach their goals through our employment, training and education, housing support, and nancial stability programs. In the past 15 years, we have helped 85,499 people in eastern Washington and north Idaho.
Our programs are funded mainly through our thri and online stores. ere are thousands of stories of lives changed in small and big ways with the help of our Goodwill. We call these the stories behind the store. You can read some of these stories at discovergoodwill.org/news. Or watch these stories on our YouTube channel at GoodwillINW.
GET INVOLVED
1) Shop our thri s stores or online.
2) Hire one of our program participants.
3) Contact our housing team if you have a property available for rent.
DONATE
Donate your gently used clothing, shoes, books, household items, etc. Or make a donation at DiscoverGoodwill.org/monetary-donations
The Kellen CARES Foundation
WHAT WE DO
kellencares.org info@kellencares.org
We are committed to suicide prevention through workshops for parents and educators and by involving youth in community events and peer support groups.
Further Description: Kellen Cares is dedicated to helping young men survive the mental health crisis currently in our community. We strive to involve our community to educate, advocate, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, while funding research and programs that provide boys and young men with the tools and resources that support their mental health and wellness.
Help us fund wellness programs and opportunities that bene t boys and young men in our community:
• Hope Squad – peer to peer suicide prevention program throughout Spokane area schools
• Guest speakers like Ryan Leaf and Kevin Hines who have shared their survival stories.
• Educational workshops with speakers such as brain and gender expert, Dr. Michael Gurian.
• Collaboration with community partners and other mental health professionals.
Attend a charity event
• ARC of Spokane - Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser
• BIg Brothers Big Sister - Reaching New Heights Gala
• Mijures in Action - Sequins and Velvet: Rompiendo Barreras Gala
• Transitions - People Who Care Event
• Volunteers of America - Eye Contact: Art Exhibit
KYRS Thin Air Community Radio
88.1 / 92.3 FM
Spokane Central Library Building • 903 West Main Ave • Spokane, Washington 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.747.3012 kyrs.org info@kyrs.org
KYRS- in Air Community Radio is a volunteer-powered, non-commercial, community radio station serving the Inland Northwest with unique programming for un-served and underserved audiences.
Broadcasting on 92.3 & 88.1 FM and streaming 24/7 at KYRS.org, we provide a mix of news, views, culture and music o en overlooked by other media. As we celebrate our 20th year, our passion for amplifying diverse voices remains unwavering. We are excited about the future and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving and upli ing our community.
GET INVOLVED
in Air Community Radio is the creation of every programmer, volunteer, underwriter, grant funder, and perhaps most importantly the listeners and communities we serve.
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
210 W Sprague Ave • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.747.8224 lcsnw.org lcsnwSpokane@lcsnw.org
Behavioral Health, Crime Victim Advocacy, and Refugee Foster Care services for trauma recovery. Partnering with individuals, families, and communities for #HealthJusticeHope
We believe all children deserve safe and loving homes, stand with refugees who’ve endured the unimaginable, and support crime victims along their healing journey. We partner with thousands to break generational cycles of trauma and make positive impacts on people and communities.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteer on our 24/7 support line. Learn about becoming a foster parent. Join our Client or Youth Advisory Boards. Attend an event, Join our Team, or Donate.
Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington
104 S. Freya St, Yellow Flag Bldg #207 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
Toll Free: 800-304-9474 wish.org/akwa
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. It’s our vision to grant an equitable wish to every eligible child, but we need your help!
Want a dose of joy, hope, connection, and FUN in your life? Change your life, and the lives of others, when you join our Make-A-Wish community as a volunteer!
Volunteers get as much out of the wish experience as wish kids do! Volunteers report that wish granting is one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives.
VOLUNTEER
• It doesn’t cost you a dime!
• Online and on-demand training available so it ts into any schedule.
• English and Spanish-speaking volunteers in demand.
• Volunteer as little as two hours a month.
Mission Community Outreach Center
1906 E. Mission Ave • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.536.1084 4mission.org mcoc.spokane@gmail.com
Mission Community Outreach Center is a free clothing, housewares, hygiene and diaper bank dedicated to serving those in need in our community.
Mission Community Outreach Center provides gently used clothing, basic household goods, and hygiene items every 60 days as well as diapers and wipes every 30 days. We operate an independent, 501(c)(3) nonpro t organization intent on reaching out with care to those in need in the Spokane community.
DONATE
Your nancial support and donations of gently used clothing, kitchenware, and bedding items, and of new diapers and hygiene items keep our shelves stocked. Email mcoc.spokane@gmail.com for interest in volunteering, donate online, or drop o donations Mon & urs 1:00-4:00pm and Wed 10 am-1 pm.
Mobius sparks curiosity and ignites imaginations of all ages through exploration and play, hands-on exhibits, and STEAM learning experiences.
Mobius Discovery Center (formerly Mobius Children’s Museum and Mobius Science Center) continues to provide experiential learning to our region. We o er eld trips, STEAM-based educational workshops, outreach experiences, birthday parties, classes, and a erhours adult events.
DONATE
$0 Donate your time by volunteering
$15 Provides one STEAM Kit to a student or organization in need
$160 Give back by becoming a member and enjoying unlimited admission
$200 Gi a classroom an opportunity to visit Mobius for a no cost eld trip
Northeast Youth & Family Services
19 E. Queen Avenue, Suite 300 • Spokane, WA 99207
509.475.6793 neyfs.org info@neyfs.org
NEYFS is a family resource center committed to empowering generations by providing access and support to children and their families in Northeast Spokane.
Identifying all of the resources available for children, youth, and families in Northeast Spokane. Collaborate with organizations and families to identify potential and existing barriers to accessing those services. Facilitate programs to help eliminate those barriers.
DONATE
• $50 can help to stock our community food pantry for up to a month!
• $100 can supply shampoo for 80 families!
• $200 can supply hygiene products and laundry detergent for 40 families!
INVOLVED Our mission is to educate, advocate, and collaborate in support of stronger nonpro ts. Discover how state associations help at nonpro twa.org & idahononpro ts.org. Support your favorite cause by sharing a training opportunity, encouraging them to grab a membership, and donating to NAWA and INC.
Visit nonpro twa.org and idahononpro ts.org to learn more about how the state associations help the helpers. Keep supporting your favorite individual causes and share a nonpro t training opportunity with them. Donate to NAWA and INC to keep training accessible to the nonpro ts you know and love.
• Go shopping at Global Neighborhood Thrift
• Donate your gently used seasonal clothing to The City Gate
• Purchase items from Failsafe For Life’s Amazon wish list
• Donate diapers to Mission Outreach Community Center
Northwest Mediation Center
35 W. Main Suite 230 • Spokane, WA 99201
509.456.0103 nwmediationcenter.com info@nwmediationcenter.com WHAT WE DO
Northwest Mediation Services fosters, provides, and teaches peaceful problem solving. We help save time and money by keeping people out of the court system.
We have a strong record of helping people nd peaceful solutions to disagreements without needing to go to court. From landlord/tenant disputes, including rent issues, to parenting plans as a result of separation or divorce, to workplace con icts, we help the parties involved nd their own solution.
DONATE
DONATE to our CIRCLE OF PEACE program. Monthly small-donations program.
$5 per month provides additional $5 per month from matching donors
$5 per month can provide free training for sharing children for up to 4 separating couples per year
$10 per month can provide up to 24 hours of mediation per year OR up to training for up to 8 separating couples per year
e MAC collects and preserves stories and material culture that serve as the memory of our region. We present exhibitions that enrich and inspire our community.
e MAC is the living center of art, culture, and history in the Inland Northwest. We inspire expression, build community, and uncover history’s relevance through art and shared experiences. We are an a liate of the Smithsonian Institution.
GET INVOLVED
Become a member today! Membership funds our exhibitions, collections, and educational programs. Perks include free admissions and special discounts on programs and the Museum Store. Come join us at Your Museum!
Nuestras Raices
WHAT
509.557.0566 hbpaofspokane.org
Nuestras Raíces is a community center committed to increasing public awareness and pride in the depth and diversity of Hispanic-Latino culture through our 501c3 and our 501c6.
Our mission is to provide a sense of belonging through well-being and holistic services to empower our community and promote a more equitable economy. We o er direct services through our three core programs: social services, economic development, and youth engagement. We promote culture and are committed to serving the Hispanic-Latino community in the Inland Northwest.
VOLUNTEER
• Volunteer for our cultural Hispanic-Latino Tacos y Tequila Festival Fundraiser and our other major events throughout the year
• Become a mentor for our LUNAA youth and student-community engagement mentorship program
• Sign up to help with our UNION soccer youth program
• Spend two ursdays per month helping out at our Esperanza food pantry
509.927.1153 partnersinw.org development@partnersinw.org WHAT WE DO
Feeding, clothing, and empowering our neighbors. When local families, vulnerable youth, and impoverished elderly face signi cant obstacles, Partners INW is here to provide a safety net for those in need. With roots of compassion dating back over 60 years, Partners INW has grown to meet the needs of the community as the largest social services agency in Spokane Valley.
GET INVOLVED
Donate cash, food, clothing & diapers
Every $1 donates provides roughly 10 meals
Career Clothing Bank, sponsored by Humanix, provides clothing at no cost, and your donations of professional attire may help men and women get a much needed job. Senior Box Packing, 1000 senior boxes are packed each month to bene t low income seniors all across Spokane County. Host a Food Drive
The Salvation Army Spokane
222 E. Indiana Avenue • Spokane, WA 99207
WHAT WE DO
509.325.6810 makingspokanebetter.org
rough numerous programs and services, e Salvation Army Spokane helps transform the lives of local vulnerable families and individuals so that they can become self-su cient.
Since 1891, our commitment has been to help the whole person physically, emotionally, and spiritually without discrimination and always with dignity and respect. $.82 cents of every dollar donated to e Salvation Army goes to life-changing programs that bring hope and results to those in need.
GET INVOLVED
$50 provides food for a week for a local family
$300 provides one week of transitional housing for a family of three
$1,000 provides a month of safe and loving care for a foster child, age 2-12, at Sally’s House
Spokane Arts: Amplifying the Arts
Spokane, WA 99210
509.321.9614 spokanearts.org artshelper@spokanearts.org WHAT WE DO
Build and support arts and culture in the Spokane region through ongoing programming, grant opportunities, and advocacy work.
Spokane Arts is a 501(c)3 nonpro t dedicated to amplifying and supporting arts and culture in Spokane. We lead public art programs including murals, sculptures, and signal boxes around town, curate the Chase Gallery at City Hall, manage the Spokane Poet Laureate and Poetry Out Loud Programs, and organize the city’s annual Arts Month and Spokane Arts Awards celebrations, along with so much more. We invite you to explore everything this creative city has to o er!
GET INVOLVED
Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated! Check out cool artists (or add yourself) on the Spokane Artist Roster or apply for a SAGA grant. You can also help out as a volunteer with Spokane Arts or attend an arts event found on our website. And hey, if you like what we’re doing, you can donate to help us keep going. Find more at spokanearts.org!
What we do: Teaching Spokane to make and enjoy art via classes, a rotating gallery, artist retail store, studios, community events, and art outreach programs.
Spokane Art School is a 501(c)3 non-pro t that was founded in 1968 and has been helping the community to “make and enjoy art” since. We o er quality stand-alone and multi-week classes in core subjects like drawing, painting, pottery, and art history, as well as expanding our classes to keep our community and students constantly creatively engaged. Our outreach programs include ArtReach, which o ers art to underserved groups, including school children and community centers, and we also teach art to groups in our space and o -site. Contact us to learn more, and we look forward to connecting with you via creativity!
GET INVOLVED
· Join our newsletter to learn about classes and events. Sign up for our classes; we also o er classes to groups. Visit our school to view our rotating gallery and artist retail shop. · Donate time (volunteer), art supplies, or nancially to help fund our programs and art residencies.
• Be an English tutor for Refugee and Immigrant Connections
• Host a hygiene drive for Project Beauty Share
• Coach athletes with Parasports Spokane
• Teach job skills and soft skills with Artisans
• Help with housekeeping or yard work with Hospice of Spokane
Second Harvest
1234 E Front Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.534.6678
2-harvest.org
info@2-harvest.org
Since 1971, all of us at Second Harvest have been rolling up our sleeves to serve people facing hunger and build healthier communities. As the local charitable food distribution center with a long reach, we bring together volunteers, donors and partners to feed our neighbors in need across 26 counties in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
Currently, 1 in 7 people in our community faces hunger, including 1 out of 5 kids. at’s why our scrappy team and incredible volunteers work tirelessly to source and share donated food with 250 partner food banks, meal sites and other programs.
We also use our Mobile Market—a food bank on wheels—to bring free food to convenient locations. For kids relying on school meals, Bite2Go provides weekend food support. In our Spokane warehouse, we o er free cooking classes, helping folks create healthy, budget-friendly meals.
ank you for joining Second Harvest to put food on tables and hope in hearts. Food connects us all, and together we are nourishing our community!
GET INVOLVED
You can be part of creating a hunger-free community!
Roll Up Your Sleeves: Pack food, ll Bite2Go bags, or lend a hand at a Mobile Market or cooking class.
Feed Hope: Your donation, big or small, helps nourish our community. Create a Lasting Impact: Consider remembering Second Harvest in your will to serve people facing hunger for years to come. Learn more at 2-harvest.org/legacy.
e Spokane Symphony, led by Music Director James Lowe, is a 74-piece orchestra committed to creating extraordinary musical experiences for everyone in our community.
Now in our 79th season, we believe the power of music impacts everyone regardless of age or background. We believe music has the power to ignite passions, nourish and inspire us, and connect us to our world and to each other.
Programs for students are core to the Spokane Symphony mission, fueled by a commitment to serve Spokane and surrounding communities. We are here to connect people of all ages to music in concert hall, classrooms and in everyday lives.
Your donations directly impact the Spokane Symphony by allowing us to bring musicians into classrooms, provide students K-12 with free tickets and share the Spokane Symphony with the community.
What your donations can do:
• Keep FREE concerts in our parks.
• Send a 4th grader to Symphony Day at e Fox.
• Send a musician to your school to enrich music curriculum.
• Send a classroom to attend a symphony concert with Class Pass Tickets.
• Send a student K-12 to experience a symphony concert with FASTix.
• Keep the historic Fox eater a vibrant, treasured landmark in Spokane.
• Support the continued prosperity of arts and culture in our community.
GET INVOLVED
It is the generous support of individual and corporate concert sponsors that make it possible for us to bring premier guest artists to perform for you with the Spokane Symphony, such as Yo-Yo Ma in our 2023-24 Season! For more information on Concert Sponsorship, please visit SpokaneSymphony.org.
Spokane Preservation Advocates
108 N Washington St #404 • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.344.1065
spokanepreservation.org
preservationspokane@gmail.com
e mission of Spokane Preservation Advocates (SPA) is to preserve and enhance the historic character of Spokane and Spokane County through advocacy, education and preservation.
SPA’s e orts have largely resulted in the preservation of many historic landmarks in our community, through its own resources, through alliances with other stakeholders, and through remaining steadfast in its mission to preserve and enhance Spokane’s architectural integrity. Spokane Preservation Advocates was formed in 1997 by a group of local historic preservation advocates who believed in the value of preservation and its role in enhancing Spokane’s quality of life. From the very beginning, SPA has been an inclusive group, open to anyone who shares a commitment to historic preservation.
JOIN US BY BECOMING A MEMBER!
• You’ll be kept updated on important preservation issues and join in on advocacy e orts.
• You’ll be regularly informed about what stakeholders are doing to preserve our local heritage and history.
• You’ll explore and learn about the architectural history of many Spokane County buildings.
• You’ll socialize with many like-minded preservation advocates and experts at our member events.
• You’ll be warmly welcome to volunteer in areas that ignite your interests.
GET INVOLVED
You don’t have to be a historic homeowner to be a member of the SPA. We have numerous preservation-related activities and events throughout the year that educate and advocate and also welcome your direct participation.
If you’d like to participate in SPA’s preservation e orts, several opportunities exist for you to do so. So why not get involved with us and have some fun while contributing to make sure Spokane remains the beautiful region that it is.
Attend our Autumn Tour of Historic Homes – Four historic homes in the Cannon Streetcar Suburb Historic District THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024, NOON TO 4PM $20 per person, tickets to be available online and on the day of the tour
Spokane Public Radio
1229 N. Monroe Street • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.328.5729 spokanepublicradio.org kpbx@kpbx.org
Spokane Public Radio provides high-quality artistic, educational, and informational programming, which enhances and enlivens the cultural life and civic discourse of its listening communities.
SPR’s three program streams can be heard throughout the inland Northwest on KPBX 91.1, KSFC 91.9, and KPBZ 90.3.
DONATE
Help us to ensure our future by donating at spokanepublicradio.org Together we make Spokane Public Radio!
Spokane Valley Heritage Museum
WHAT WE DO
509.922.4570 spokanevalleymuseum.com
Spokane Valley Heritage Museum seeks to inform, in uence and inspire community members and visitors through the work that we do to preserve our regional history for future generations, educate others on the history of our region and provide resources for individuals to conduct research on the people, places and events that have shaped the area we call home. e Museum houses many artifacts of local history and has an ever-rotating display of special exhibits, including traveling exhibits. We o er guided tours, bookings for school eld trips and group experiences with knowledgeable guides, occasional educational presentations, a vast archive of historical photos, assistance with historical research and more!
GET INVOLVED
Donate today! Spokane Valley Heritage Museum is almost entirely volunteer-run, and our admission rates are kept a ordable to allow everyone access to history. Your generosity allows us to continue our mission to inform, in uence and inspire. You can also volunteer at the Museum. Call us for more information on volunteering.
Changing Lives and Healing Hearts brings awareness and education of domestic violence to the greater Spokane area.
Changing Lives and Healing Hearts provides “GO” bags for individuals in need of leaving unsafe situations in a hurry. Go bags have toiletries, gas cards, food cards and other necessities so people can leave at a moments notice.
GET INVOLVED
$100 donation sponsors a complete “GO” bag.
$50 donation provides a gas card and a food card.
$25 donation provides a gas card.
Please visit our website for events and volunteer opportunities.
As a nonpro t that was started right here in the Inland Northwest over 13 years ago, we seek to reach our struggling veterans in our community that gave all around the world to protect our freedoms.
VCR is a nonpro t organization composed of veterans from all branches, local re ghters, and certi ed therapists that work diligently to support combat veterans in their readjustment process. Our programs help combat veterans develop the skills to navigate their postwar challenges and lead productive and satisfying lives a er serving our great country. It is our rm belief that with compassion, understanding, and action we can create a safe and structured environment to promote the healing process for those we serve.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteering: We are proud to rely solely on the resources and volunteerism of our community to carry out our mission. Reach out to learn how to connect and serve Donate to VCR: Your donation directly supports VCR’s 1-to-4-day retreats, supports our responder and community service programs, and much more.
Volunteers of America (VOA) Eastern Washington 525 W. Second Avenue • Spokane, WA 99201
509.624.2378 voaspokane.org info@voaspokane.org
VOA provides specialized care to youth and adults with low-barrier access to services and housing rst solutions.
As a licensed Certi ed Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), our focus is on holistic care. is involves addressing social determinants of health, medical treatment, mental health care, peer support services, and substance use disorder treatment, all within our housing and shelter services.
We have a wide range of programs serving teens (13-17), young mothers (up to 24), young adults (18-24), foster youth, women (18+), veterans, outreach, and housing. Our dedicated sta is here to meet individuals right where they are in life and walk beside them on their journey toward achieving their goals. VOA has been upli ing our community for 128 years!
DONATE
You can donate your time, talent, or dollars!
Cook and deliver a meal to Crosswalk or YAS
Provide haircuts
We are in constant need of men’s clothing, boxer briefs, and shoes of for all $50 can provide meals, $250 can provide a move-in kit for someone newly housed Your kindness goes a long way!
GET INVOLVED
Attend Eye Contact u. Oct. 10
Host a Mardi Bras Party, Feb. Dine out for Give & Gather in April
TRANSACTION REQUIREMENTS: 3
A. Perform five or more qualifying actions from this list:
• Make a purchase using your BECU debit Mastercard.®
• Write a check or electronic check.
• Make a payment using the BECU Bill Payment service.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE.
B. Deposit $500 or more into your checking account. OR
This QR code should lead you to https://becu.org/join. If the code leads you to another site, avoid entering your information and report the incident to BECU.
1 Offer valid until September 30, 2024, and redeemable at any BECU location and online. For new BECU members only, age 18 and older. Must be within BECU’s field of membership and be eligible to open and maintain membership; not everyone will qualify. New members who are rejoining but have had a membership relationship with BECU in the last six (6) months do not qualify. Business, Fiduciary, Zero-Dividend, HSA, Early Saver accounts, and BECU employees are not eligible to receive deposit bonuses. Must establish and maintain membership by opening a Member Share savings and also a checking account using promo code GIVINGBACK and meeting the transaction requirements within 30 days of account opening. BECU is not required to pay the promotional incentive for accounts opened without the appropriate Promo Code. Accounts must remain open for at least 90 days. The $100 bonus deposit to your Member Share savings account will occur within 120 days of establishing the qualifying accounts if the transaction requirements were met in the first 30 days. Accounts must be open and in good standing at time of fulfillment to qualify. BECU will not deposit bonus funds to closed accounts. Bonus will be reported to the IRS on form 1099INT at year end as interest income. Other terms, limitations, and conditions apply. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Limit one offer per member. Check with BECU for current Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of accounts. BECU reserves the right to terminate this offer at any time.
2 Giving Back Spokane will receive the $100 donation for every new primary member who established a Member Share savings and checking account, and met transaction requirements within 30 days using promo code GIVINGBACK by 12/31/2024. A one-time cumulative donation will be made to Giving Back Spokane within 120 days following the conclusion of the promotion period. No charitable receipt will be provided.
3 To meet the transaction requirements, you must open and maintain active Member Share or Member Advantage savings and also a checking account. You must complete five or more qualifying transactions using the checking account or deposit transaction(s) of $500 or more into the checking account within 30 days of account origination. Checking transactions, POS withdrawals, international ACH withdrawals, ATM transfer debits, electronic checks, ATM withdrawals, checks, and external withdrawals are defined as qualifying transactions. External deposits, ATM deposits, ATM transfer credits, new account deposit, and international ACH transaction deposits are defined as qualifying deposits.
