How we get the food

Every day, we get updates from local restaurants, caterers, hotels, grocers, wholesalers, farmers, and event centers letting us know they have food that needs to be rescued. Either the same day or the next day, our dedicated volunteers drive routes around Spokane in our refrigerated vans to pick up food that would otherwise be wasted.

grateful girl holding food

Good food moves fast

Each week, our team of dedicated volunteers redistributes an average of 35,000 lbs of food. Our current facility only has a capacity of 18,000 lbs – so we have to keep it moving!

Who we help

According to the Feed America Project, in 2018 there were roughly 65,000 food insecure people in Spokane County. This represented a 13 percent food insecurity rate. This rate has certainly risen since 2020 because of the increased poverty and unemployment due to the pandemic.

Leadership

Yes! The Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) has supported this program from its inception. Spokane County’s chief health officer, Dr. Kim Marie Thorburn, is quoted on our literature as saying, “We are an enthusiastic partner in this important program that is creating a healthier community by reducing hunger and waste. We are committed to assuring that donated food is safe and practical for everyone.” Ray Byrne, SRHD’s Food Program Technical Advisor, attends every planning meeting for the program.

Our goal is to not only feed the hungry, but to feed them good, nutritious and safe food. For more information, contact the SRHD at (509) 324-1560, ext. 2.

No. The federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act 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.” This bi-partison legislation:

  • Protects donors from liability when donating to a non-profit organization;
  • Protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the product donated in good faith later cause harm to the needy recipient;
  • Standardizes donor liability exposure. Donors and their legal counsel no longer have to investigate liability laws in 50 states;
  • Sets a liability floor of “gross negligence” or intentional misconduct for persons who donate grocery products;
  • Congress recognized that the provision of food close to recommended date of sale is, in and of itself, not grounds for finding gross negligence. For example, cereal can be donated if it is marked close to code date for retail sale.

For more information, contact the SRHD at (509) 324-1560, ext. 2.

No. Instead of throwing edible food in the garbage, your kitchen staff simply puts it in corner of your cooler, in equipment that we provide. Then our driver comes and picks up the food at your convenience. You can schedule a regular pick-up or simply call when you have something to donate. You only deal with one person; your food is then distributed to every free meal site in Spokane. Your kitchen staff already knows how to properly handle foods, so there is no extra training. We have also found that donating good food to the hungry improves staff morale and makes them proud of their job at your company.

You shouldn’t. If you are already giving away all your edible food to the hungry, don’t change. Our goal is to work with all the food organizations in our local area to increase the overall amount of food available to the hungry in our community. Thank you for being a part of the solution!

You can help

We know that we’re only rescuing 10% of the food that is being thrown away in Spokane. Feed Spokane relies on our team of dedicated volunteers, recurring donors, and grants to keep the food safe, lights on, and fuel in our refrigerated vans. Even if you aren’t able to share your time or resources with us, you can help us spread the word!