Lend Some Advice For A Good Cause

One of the most exclusive eateries in Spokane is tucked away in an unassuming stretch of East Sprague.

It’s reserved for members of the Evergreen Club, and their guests. Not just anyone can join; membership is restricted to adults with major mental illnesses.

The Evergreen Club, a program of Spokane Mental Health, is part of a network of similar clubhouses across the world. Along with the cafe, club activities include a thrift shop (open to the public), a job placement program and recreational opportunities. There’s staff supervision, but members basically make the decisions about how the place runs.

While the cafe service is attentive, the company pleasant and the prices reasonable - $1.35 for a full lunch, which is many members’ main meal of the day - club members and staff alike admit the cuisine could use some help.

They’re looking for volunteers who can come in and teach them more about cooking, meal planning, nutrition and smart shopping. Professional chefs and experienced home cooks alike are welcome, whether it’s a single visit or an ongoing commitment of time.

If you’re interested in helping out, call cafe supervisor Mike Dobler at 458-7454.

Labor of your fruits

Feeling fruity? The Reddi-wip whipped topping people are sponsoring a Fifty Fruit Salute Contest for simple, fresh fruit recipes - topped off, of course, with Reddiwip.

One winner will be selected from each state, with a grand prize of $5,000 (the other 49 finalists get $50, a cookbook and a year’s supply of Reddi-wip). Recipes will be judged on taste, originality, visual appeal, ease of preparation and importance of the fruit to the entrant’s home state (good luck, Alaska!).

Entries must be mailed by July 4 to Reddi-wip Fifty Fruit Salute Contest, LS-100, 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. For more information, visit the Reddi-wip Web site at www.beatricecheese.com.

Sweepstakes on the grill

Can’t cook? All you have to do is be able to write your name to enter Tabasco’s Ultimate Summer Cookout Sweepstakes, with the winner receiving a barbecue pit and accessories worth $1,700.

Entry deadline is June 15. Enter at Tabasco’s Web site, www.tabasco.com, or, if you’re still in the Stone Age (like most of us), send a postcard with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: The Ultimate Summer Cookout Sweepstakes, McIlhenny Co., Avery Island, LA 70513. The prize drawing is scheduled for June 23, with the winner’s name posted on the Internet.

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