SPOKANE, Wash. — Despite the government being reopened, it may take a while for things to return to normal. Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners is helping families in the meantime.
Tanya Gibson is SNAP’s acting director of community food security. She says her team is still fielding calls from people feeling the impacts of the government shutdown.
“The shutdown has impacted our community in ways that I think we’re still unable to really realize,” Gibson said.
Gibson works closely with members of the community struggling with food insecurity.
“We have really seen a huge increase in phone calls. People are desperate. They are trying to decide if they’re going to pay their rent, if they’re going to pay their utilities or put food on our table,” Gibson said.
So SNAP is bringing back the program “Cuisine for Clients.” It was initially launched during the COVID-19 pandemic so people could donate meals from local restaurants to those in need.
“Money can only stretch so far. And so there’s not going to be that extra money to go out,” Gibson said.
The program is appreciated by local restaurants – both for the added business and the chance to give back.
The first round of meals is going to be supported by Feast World Kitchen.
The downtown restaurant offers a rotating menu created and cooked by refugees.
Feast’s co-executive director Maisa Abudayha says she’s happy to support this cause. At the same time, she’s urging the community to address the core issues of food insecurity.
“We as a community, we have to come together to have a bigger solution to solve more problems in the upcoming six months,” Abudayha said.
SNAP is accepting donations now, which begin at $25.
To donate, you can text yummy to 91999 or visit this website.
The first round of meals will be distributed Monday.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
