Food bank, community center change name

More than a mouthful, much too wordy for a business card, the name of The Spokane Valley Community Center and Food Bank has been shortened to Spokane Valley Partners.

“It’s the best way to describe us,” said Ken Briggs, Spokane Valley Partners director. “We’re the only source for comprehensive social services in Spokane Valley,”

The Community Center and Food Bank used to be two different entities, but in 2005 they merged. From the beginning of the merger, it was clear a name change was in order, Briggs said, but board members took their time.

The change also shortens the typing the required to log onto the group’s Web site. The new address www.svpart.org is much shorter than the old address, www.spokanevalleycommunitycenter andfoodbank.org.

Spokane Valley Partners, 10814 E. Broadway Ave., houses a dozen social services, including the food bank. The collaboration lets thousands of low-income people get assistance without having to drive from office to office.

Physical changes could be coming to the center in the form of $260,000 building expansion, Briggs said. The center has a funding request before the Legislature for a food storage expansion and upgrades to the center’s kitchen, where the center officers cooking classes for patrons in English and Russian.

Briggs said Spokane Valley Partners has also added a new director to help with fundraising. Don Kaufman, the former 30-year chief executive officer for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Spokane, will try to increase outside donations to Spokane Valley Partners.