In brief: EWU food drive aids area famlies
CHENEY – The sixth annual Eastern Washington University Community Food Drive raised more than $15,000 in cash donations.
Cheney Food Bank, Cheney Outreach and Feed Cheney will share nearly $8,200 of the cash donations.
John Matthews, director of Cheney Food Bank, said the $5,000 the food bank is receiving will enable the purchase of 10,000 pounds of food for the 400 families who rely on the food bank.
“It makes a big impact and the need is only growing,” Matthews said.
Communities in Schools of Spokane County will receive $6,800 donation toward its Friday Backpacks of Food Program. That donation will allow another 42 low-income children to receive a backpack full of food on Friday afternoons, meant to tide them over for the weekend when free breakfast and lunch is not available at schools.
YWCA plans on hiring therapist
DOWNTOWN – Providence Health Care has awarded the YWCA of Spokane with $18,720 to help hire and retain a licensed therapist for the organization’s Alternatives to Domestic Violence Program. The YWCA provides nonclinical counseling to 483 survivors of domestic violence and 410 children exposed to the trauma of domestic violence every year.
Therapeutic needs include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, depression and other mental health concerns. The licensed therapist will also provide support to on-staff counselors.
“Having a licensed therapist in-house will allow us to provide direct service support to 40 victims of domestic violence,” wrote Patti Wheeler, YWCA of Spokane director of Programs, in a news release. “We are the only state recognized domestic violence service provider in Spokane County, and the ability to address the therapeutic needs of the women and children who require our services is a vital component to their overall healing process.”
South Hill watch hosts block party
CLIFF/CANNON – The annual block party organized by the Lower South Hill Neighborhood Watch group is 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The party will be on West Tenth Avenue, between Monroe and Madison Streets, and features live music, a barbecue cook-off with City Council candidates Amber Waldref, Jon Snyder, John Ahern, Candace Mumm and Michael Cannon, as well as kids activities and raffles.
The party is held in conjunction with National Night Out Against Crime.
Call: (509) 838-2722.
Gardens host evening event
SOUTH HILL – The Friends of the Moore-Turner Gardens is having a wine and cheese event on Sept. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave., adjacent to the gardens.
The evening features a cello performance in the gardens by Helen Byrne at 5 p.m.; a social hour at 6 and a presentation by Marsha Rooney, MAC’s senior history curator on historic landscape photography, on two historic homes at 7.
Tickets are $10; or $5 for members; $20 memberships good through April 2014, may be purchased at the door. Call: (509) 625-6677.
Spokane seeking grant applicants
DOWNTOWN – The city of Spokane is seeking applicants for its 2014 lodging tax grants totaling $100,000.
The grants are available for projects that promote tourism and cultural activities in Spokane.
The deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Office of the City Council, City Hall, Seventh Floor, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Application forms and details can be found at: www.spokanecity.org or by calling (509) 625-6255.
Rypien Field hosts celebraton
NORTHEAST – Spokane COPS, Spokane Youth Sports Association and Rogers High School’s Leadership Program are among the sponsors of Northeast Spokane’s National Night Out Against Crime celebration on Sept. 27, from 4-8 p.m. at Andrew Rypien Field, 3501 N. Regal St.
There will be live music, games and activities for children, community resources exhibits and visits by fire and police equipment.
The event is free.
Free dental care event Friday
NORTHEAST – North View Family Dental is hosting a Dentistry From the Heart event Friday, providing free dental care to the first 100 clients at the clinic, at 5901 N. Lidgerwood St.
Dr. Robert Leale and a staff of volunteer dentists, hygienists and assistants will provide cleanings, fillings and extractions, using donated dental materials.
To learn more about Dentistry From the Heart, a nationwide service organization which has provided more than $8 million in free dental treatment since 2001, visit dentistry fromtheheart.org.
COPS hosts shredding event
SHADLE PARK – COPS Northwest is hosting a shredding event on Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Donations to the COPS Shop are welcome. COPS Northwest is in the Shadle Shopping Center, 2215 W. Wellesley Ave.
Call: (509) 625-3336.