SPOKANE, Wash – For Susan McDonald Osborn, the founder of the Spokane Helpers Network and the close to 100 volunteers that work with her, giving is just part of what they do.
“Our vision is that every low-income person in Spokane just has a little bit of a better day.”
McDonald Osborn started the grassroots nonprofit just over three years ago. Under the Spokane Helpers Network, McDonald Osborn started the Feeding Our Homebound Neighbors program.
“We feel like there are many, many people out there that can’t get to food banks but are hungry, and we want to provide help to those people,” said McDonald Osborn.
The program services those in the region that fit the following criteria:
Are under the age of 60Have a disabilityHave a short-term or long-term illnessWill have/has recently had surgeryWill have/has recently had a babyHas no transportation (no working car; friends and family cannot transport; cannot be expected to ride a bus)Lives within our service delivery area (i.e., Airway Heights, Mead, Spokane, Spokane Country, Spokane Valley)
Volunteers drop off three nonperishable meals every other week that require little preparation. McDonald Osborn said most of the food they distribute comes from in-kind donations from their network: “Our members are the kindest and most generous people. I can ask for a case of peaches, and that case of peaches is on my porch within 24 hours.”
One of those recipients is Jeanie Wayne, who lost her sight over twenty years ago. She told NonStop Local this program simply filled the gaps: ” Without it, I wouldn’t have sustained my life the way that it is.”
If you would like to get involved with the Spokane Helpers Network, you can find more information here: Sign-Up (spokanehelpersnetwork.org)
