Spokane Food Fighters find niche for helping feed people
Spokane Food Fighters came about out of a desire to feed people in this food emergency.
In response to coronavirus, State Representative and Spokane resident Marcus Riccelli founded and leads the nonprofit. Robbi Katherine Anthony and Patrick McHugh do the technology.
Local philanthropist-activist Sharon Smith represents the fiscal sponsor, the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund.
They rally restaurants and volunteer deliverers to bring meals to neighbors in need.
"We are partnering with local restaurants to help their bottom line a bit. Restaurants are paid unless they want to donate," said Marcus. "We knew in these days there would be more people struggling with food insecurity."
He said the Spokane group adopted the name "Food Fighters" from a group of state legislators who promoted food policy, such as Breakfast After the Bell for students.
The Spokane Food Fighters serve people with emergency needs, people who cannot afford food and/or are place bound. It does not replace food from schools, food banks, Meals on Wheels or grocery stores.
Meals are free for city residents, with a maximum of five meals per household.
Volunteers deliver the microwave-ready meals prepared at different restaurants.
Spokane Food Fighters can serve up to 35 households a day, and households may order no more than once a week. Deliveries include a community food resource guide.
Meals are ordered at https://spokanefoodfighters.org/request between noon and midnight for next day delivery. Volunteers pick up meals from the restaurant(s) and deliver from 4 to 6 p.m. Emergency food boxes are delivered from noon to 8 p.m.
Meals are left at the front door unless other instructions are given.
The delivery person knocks on the door or rings the bell to alert the household the food is there. To keep everyone safe, volunteers and household members do not interact.
Restaurants use best practices and have limited interaction with deliverers.
Each delivery volunteer has a safety kit with gloves and hand sanitizer. Those receiving food are to wipe down the food containers with alcohol and wash their hands after.
Volunteers may sign up at https://spokanefoodfighters.org/volunteer.
The effort is funded by donations made at http://bit.ly/SpokaneFF.
For information, email hello@spokanefoodfighters.com.
Copyright@ The Fig Tree, May, 2020
