Grocery Outlet to give food free to needy family

The Grocery Outlet in north Spokane is giving away groceries, and it needs your help.

Once a month, the store plans to give $100 worth of groceries to a family in dire need of help. The program, called Feed the Family, is an idea owner Mike Clancy recently adopted as part of the store’s effort to give back to the community.

Store manager Lisa Cunningham sent 100 letters in February to area schools, churches, police and fire departments and other community centers, announcing the program and asking for help in nominating candidates.

In order to qualify, potential recipients must send a letter of 50 words or less stating the needs of the family. The letter should include name, address and phone number of the candidate.

Depending on the response, a family will be chosen once a month and a $100 store gift card will be presented. If the response is great, the number of recipients per month may increase.

“We strive to be part of our community. We’re a hometown grocery store. We want to give back to the community that supports us.” Cunningham said.

North Spokane Grocery Outlet, which opened in 1999, is independently owned and operated. Last year, the grocery store more than doubled in size, moving from a 12,000-square-foot store to its 25,000-square-foot location at 7810 N. Division St.

The store’s efforts in supporting the community include collecting donations from customers at the registers. Anyone interested in helping the Feed the Family program can put cash in the jar placed by each register, give food items to the cashier or donate a Grocery Outlet gift card.

Donations will go directly to families in need. By offering these opportunities to help, Cunningham and Clancy hope the community will get involved and work with the store to offer a helping hand.