Donation campaigns focus on energy aid, food bank

Two new campaigns at the Spokane Valley Community Center and Food Bank will boost opportunities to give.

When the power and heat gets turned off for families facing a temporary financial crisis, a child’s homework becomes a minor concern. To help restore stability to a child’s life, the center launched the Spark Program for the month of February to provide emergency energy assistance.

“The Spark Program is a little grass roots thing we’re running here to give businesses a kit, and it lets us raise money for people to keep their power or heat on,” said Ken Briggs, CEO of the center and food bank.

“Kids who don’t have power on don’t think about their homework.”

The center has asked area businesses to support the emergency assistance program by agreeing to collect $1 donations from customers and employees. Donors can then record their names on an acknowledgment that may be hung in businesses to show support.

The Spark Program began Feb. 1 and will continue through the month. The center has given out packets of 50 or 100 acknowledgments and information. Any business owners who want to participate can call the center at 927-1153 for more information.

Another upcoming campaign starts March 1 and runs through April 30. Called the Million Dollar Giveaway to Fight Hunger, the center’s food bank is participating in a nationwide program to double all local donations of cash and food. The Feinstein Foundation will match $1 for every $1 of cash or $1 for every pound of food donated.

All donations must mention the Feinstein challenge and be received between March 1 to April 30 to qualify. The Feinstein Foundation will match up to $50,000 per agency. Feinstein’s past $1 million challenges to fight hunger have raised $620 million for agencies nationwide.

“We’ve talked to some donors already asking them to delay their donations for a little while so they can maximize their dollars,” Briggs said.

Donations can include cash, checks and food items. The Spokane Valley Community Center and Food Bank is at 10814 E. Broadway Ave.