Think about your daily routine. Do you have to worry about basic necessities like food, water, and shelter? It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own obstacles and circumstances, both positive and negative, that we forget that there are people in our community that don’t know when their next meal is. I am definitely guilty of it. I think to myself: I should go volunteer next week. But then next week arrives and something always comes up. So how do we help those in need amidst our own whirling schedules? Thankfully, the holidays are a perfect reminder that we should be giving. Food drives, volunteer opportunities, and holiday donation jars appear everywhere during this time. My Fresh Basket is doing its part to invite all of us to help decrease local hunger in the Spokane area.
“Bag Local Hunger” at My Fresh Basket
October 26th through November 15th, My Fresh Basket is offering shoppers the opportunity to purchase a $10 bag of groceries that will go to Our Place Community Ministries, a subsidiary of Second Harvest. You can also donate other nonperishable food items or simply make a monetary donation when you check out.
Our Place serves the West Central neighborhood in Spokane. Their vision is that “Through the programs of Our Place Community Ministries, West Central Spokane will be a healthy community with opportunities and support for all its residents to grow in self reliance, respect and quality of life”.
While you’re going about your normal activities, you can make an impact in someone’s life. And the life you will be impacting is right next door. My Fresh Basket believes in supporting the community we are all a part of so we can grow together.
Hunger Statistics in Washington and Spokane
A remarkable amount of individuals in Spokane County live in a state of food insecurity. These individuals resort to cutting meal size or skipping meals entirely to save money. In Spokane, 16% of youth experience food insecurity. So roughly how many people is that? 17,600. This means that 17,600 individuals under the age of 18 may not know when or where their next meal comes from.
- 1 in 8 people in the Spokane community and in Washington as a whole is food insecure.
- 1 in 6 Washingtonians rely on food banks.
- Between 2010 and 2014, 16.3% of the Spokane County population was below the poverty level.
- The majority of working-age Washingtonians who live in poverty are actively working or looking for work.
- Washington is the 25th hungriest state.
For more information on Spokane hunger statistics, visit Spokane Cares.
So What Can You Do?
Small actions made by large amounts of individuals will make a difference. Numerous companies and organizations around Spokane have programs in place like My Fresh Basket’s. Help My Fresh Basket and other organizations “bag local hunger” this holiday season.
