Leading Community Organizations Support Opportunity Northeast

The practical, timely efforts of Opportunity Northeast (ONE) to enhance food security in our Northeast neighborhoods has drawn support from three leading nonprofit organizations in Spokane, and a federally funded program administered by Spokane County United Way.

The funding supports the shared efforts of Campus Kitchens and Sodexo to provide healthy meals to residents of the Northeast Spokane community and beyond.

“We can’t thank these organizations enough for helping us serve our neighbors,” said Molly Ayers, director of Gonzaga University’s Center for Community Engagement which oversees Campus Kitchens.

Women Helping Women Fund is investing $10,000 in the Campus Kitchens program and their Logan Family Meal, hosted in partnership with Logan Elementary School, which provides a weekly dinner to individuals, youth and families while creating a place to build and strengthen community connections. The grant was part of WHWF’s fundraising efforts earlier this spring.

Innovia Foundation (formerly Inland Northwest Community Foundation) is providing a $10,000 grant to expand the family lunches currently offered at Logan Elementary and John R. Rogers High School to families at Stevens Elementary as well. That means when youngsters visit the school to pick up breakfast and lunch (provided through the federally funded summer meal program), there’s something for others in the family too! The Gonzaga University Campus Kitchens' partnership with Sodexo Dining Services expects to add more than 4,000 additional meals as a result of this investment.

In addition, Rotary 21 donated $1,700 to help rebuild the Ruellen-Day garden at Gonzaga that provides fresh vegetables and food for Northeast neighbors. Rotary 21 provided the original seed funding for the garden more than a decade ago, and this new restoration grant allowed for the purchasing of new beds and soil. In May, a group of community-based volunteers assembled the raised gardens and planted seedlings that are already yielding tasty produce. Campus Kitchens staff and volunteers are tending the gardens over the summer.

The Emergency Food Shelter Program, administered by Spokane County United Way on behalf of FEMA has awarded Opportunity Northeast $17,372 to expand summer take-away meals for adults in Northeast Spokane, including expansion to Stevens Elementary. Additionally, the Family Meal program at Logan Elementary (Tuesday evenings) has been funded through the upcoming academic year.

“We are gratified and encouraged by these gifts and support, and we intend to stretch every dollar as far as it will go,” said Bailley Wootton with Gonzaga. “Everyone deserves healthy meals, and we know our neighbors value and appreciate the work of Sodexo and our Campus Kitchens program to help out in these uncertain times.”