Thank goodness we are finally experiencing some spring in Spokane! The blue sky and warm sun are certainly welcome! I have nothing but admiration for the women who dine here. So many of them are alone and without a support system. They live on fixed incomes and haven't had a cost of living increase in more than 2 years! The cost of fruits and vegetables is up 23%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, food costs have risen 5%. Heating costs have risen too! When your income is just over $600 a month those kind of increases are tough to absorb. Thank you for your continued support that allows us to welcome these women and children with a hot meal. Our many loyal donors and volunteers are vital in this effort. Please continue to provide support so that these women and children can eat. Finally, I would like to share something with you that really warmed my heart. If you read The Inlander, you may know about the "Cheers and Jeers" section. In this week's issue, appeared the following Cheers under the headline You Are Family: Cheers to the Women's & Children's Free Restaurant. This restaurant, with all its people has given me health, dignity, respect & a warm feeling that I matter. They are more than just dinner to me, they are family. We don't know who submitted this item, but we are so glad that we have been able to touch this woman in such a way. Everyday, we strive to deliver the very things she talks about - health, dignity, and respect. We are so glad that she, and you, are a part of our family.
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Nearly 350 women gathered on May 7th for WCFR's 5th Annual Spring Tea. Table captains went all out decorating their tables - some with heirloom China, others with whimsical dragonflies and butterflies and other tables conjured up spring themes. Hats off to Board Member Terry Decker for her beautiful vegetable-themed centerpiece, which saluted WCFR's commitment to nutrition with a beautiful cauliflower right in the center.