Support; A spotlight on local non-profits

The season of giving leads to a new year of hope

By Ben Wick

Current Publisher

As we reflect on all that we have accomplished in 2019 and look forward to a new year, and a new decade, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead”

This year we at The Current would like to challenge each of our readers to give the most valuable gift, your time, to a local nonprofit or community organization that matches your interests. Or go one step further, get your friends together and create your own. Anything that helps our neighbors and strengthens our community.

Then tell us about it! Send us a photo of you and/or your crew to us with a brief description of how you are helping the community with the names of the non-profit and we will print it in upcoming editions throughout 2020!

Here, and throughout this edition we have given some examples of organizations that may interest you to take up as your community service project this year.

We hope each of you have a wonderful 2020!

Projectid

Started in November of 2013 by the parents of a daughter who has special needs, Projectid is a non-profit organization with the goal to provide opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enjoy the same pleasures, responsibilities, and growth opportunities as every young adult. The activities are catered to meet the individual’s unique needs.

In its second phase of the six phase master plan, Projectid operates a recreation center called “The Wolf Den” which helps with skill development; a friendship church; organizes “The Wolfpack” which is one of the largest special Olympics teams in the state, and is currently working to provide classes for transitional living skills, resource management, and healthy living.

Want to get involved? Projectid is always looking for volunteers! Whether you want to spend evenings playing basketball or doing crafts with members, lead or help with girls’ night, or help plan a special event, we welcome your willingness to help and your talents! In particularly they are looking for general volunteers for Wednesday through Saturday nights, and a yoga instructor to teach a weekly or every-other week yoga classes. For more information contact ProjectId at projectidspokane. org or by calling 509-475-7185 (Wed through Sat 6pm to 9pm)

ParaSport

With integrity, ParaSport Spokane will provide training and competitive athletic opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities that promote success, self-worth and independence. ParaSport Spokane is a big believer in character building through sports and uses adaptive sports as a catalyst for life. So much so that they have partnered with another Spokane Valley based organization called Partners Advancing Character Education (PACE) to promote their mission of “Bringing Character to Light!” Guided by the PACE Character Trait of the Month, they promote and integrate each trait into the activities of the organization and have been recognized as an organization of the month.

The core sports that ParaSport Spokane offers are wheelchair basketball and track & field, and are contested at the Paralympic Games (which is different than the Special Olympics as athletes who compete within Paralympic sports have physical disabilities while Special Olympics athletes have intellectual disabilities)

Want to Get Involved? It takes thousands of volunteer hours to organize all of the activities at ParaSport Spokane offers and they are always looking for people interested in coaching. ParaSport Spokane is also having a their 4th annual celebration and storytelling silent auction to help support their mission on Feb 1st at The Hangar Event Center at Felts Field, tickets are $60 per person. More information on how you can volunteer with or attend their event can be found at parasportspokane.org or by emailing Teresa Skinner at tskinner@ parasportsspokane.org

Teen and Kid Closet

Teen and Kid Closet is all about dignity for an often-overlooked population, children in need. They give new or gently used clothing to children who need it, focusing on youth in foster care or in poverty.

Teen and Kid Closet has a brick and mortar shop in Spokane, serving all of eastern WA and North ID. Every shopper, from babies to young adults are welcome to our free shop. Each child has to be referred by someone of authority: social worker, school counselor, etc.

Most of the youth they serve have no other access to nice clothes. They site that 11,000 children in WA State are in foster care and 3,000 homeless kids are listed in Spokane County.

The organization and its boutique are run solely by volunteers and is open for church groups or other organizations to get involved.

Want to Get Involved? In addition to looking for volunteers to help operate the boutique clothing donations are also very appreciated. They are particularly looking for very gently used: pants, tops, dresses, skirts, coats, jackets, PJs and accessories like belts, sunglasses, hats, ball caps, etc (in any size from newborn to very large adult). More information can be found at teenkidcloset.org or by calling 509-534-1151

Feed Spokane

Supported by the Spokane Regional Health District, Feed Spokane is a non-profit organization that brings local restaurants, grocery providers, and community members in the greater Spokane area together to safely preserve prepared foods from restaurants and grocery stores, which then go to non-profit organizations who serve free meals to those in need.

How It Works -- commercial kitchens package excess food in provided containers rather than disposing of it, and freeze it. Feed Spokane rescues frozen food from commercial kitchens or warehouses regularly, or as needed and distributes it to coalition member meal sites across Spokane Valley / Spokane. Rescued food is then safely served to those who need it in our area. Donors are eligible for a tax write off and save on disposal costs while non-profit coalition meal sites save on food costs. Win-win!

For those concerned with the liability of donating prepared food, Feed Spokane cites the federal “Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act” protections which states that donors “shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals.”

Want to Get Involved? Feed Spokane is always looking for volunteers. More information can be found at feedspokane. org/get-involved

Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank & Family Services

When local families, vulnerable youth, and impoverished elderly face significant obstacles Spokane Valley Partners is there to provide a safety net for those in need. With roots of compassion dating back over 60 years, Spokane Valley Partners has grown to meet the needs of the community as the largest social services agency in Spokane Valley. With service lines and programs now including the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank, Spokane Valley Partners Clothing Bank, Inland Northwest Diaper Bank, Food for Thought, Emergency Services, and Payee Services.

Quick facts on Spokane Valley Partners service from 2018: 10,251 families were served through the food bank receiving 1.4 million pounds of food, 500 students each week served in the food for thought program (sending backpacks of food home so they would be able to have food over the weekend), just under 20,000 hours were volunteered to help the community.

Want to Get Involved? Weather you are interested in hosting a food or diaper drive, donating money, or able to share some of your time volunteering. Spokane Valley Partners couldn’t do all that they do without your help. More information can be found at www. svpart.org/volunteer or by calling 509- 927-1153