Police Department

SPD Helps Families in Need

Julie Humphreys, 509.622.5868

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 4:10 p.m.

Six grateful families receive a gift of food and more, thanks to the Spokane Police Department and other community partners

This week the Spokane Police Community Outreach unit was contacted by Arlington Elementary school regarding 6 families in need of assistance. Officers facilitated a food pick-up at Martin Luther King Center. When SPD officers arrived they were overwhelmed by the amount of food, effort and care MLK staff put into preparing 3 food boxes each for the families. 

The families are among the most economically challenged in our community and some have had prior brushes with the law. When officers knocked on doors bringing unexpected food supplies, small steps were taken to build trust and to bridge the relationship between police and community members.

One family requested games and items to help entertain their grandchildren as the prolonged stay at home order is taking a toll on parents and grandparents. An SPD officer was able to round up some of her own items to donate to the family. Additionally, a few children had not picked up this week’s school work packet. SPD officers collected the homework packets and delivered them along with the food.

SPD would like to thank the staff at Martin Luther King Center, including Freda, Adell, William, and Yolanda for their help in this outreach endeavor.  MLK Center operates a food bank. A happy outcome of the food delivery was all families are now signed up and/or connected with MLK to use their food bank, not just during COVID19, but as needed moving forward.

Related Photos

• Photo 1
• Photo 2

• Newer
• Older