Spokane, WA – Two of Spokane’s key food assistance programs are coming up short—just as many families prepare for the new school year.
Bite2Go, operated by Second Harvest, provides weekend food kits to thousands of students identified as food insecure. Last year, a one-time grant helped the program run through the summer. That grant is no longer available—and now, Bite2Go is short on both food and funding.
“Right now we’re short on funds for about 300 kids,” said Eric Williams with Second Harvest. “Two kids is two too many.”
The shortage comes as federal food assistance programs like SNAP (food stamps) also face cuts—leaving families with smaller monthly benefits, even as food prices remain high. Williams says it’s not a single large cut causing the strain, but rather a series of smaller ones that are adding up fast.
Meanwhile, the MLK Jr. Family Outreach Center made the rare decision to close its food bank Tuesday because it simply ran out of food. Executive Director Freda Gandy says demand is outpacing supply across the board.
“It hasn’t been this significantly bad,” Gandy said. “To the point where you have to make the decision to say, you have to close until you figure out how to accommodate.”
She adds that when local centers run dry, the impact is widespread—especially for families who rely on these resources to get by.
Both organizations are calling for community support through donations or volunteering as they try to keep up with rising need.
How you can help:
Donate or learn more about Bite2GoSupport the MLK Jr. Family Outreach Center
