Keeping the Safety-Net Strong in Spokane

Food for Thought
The Newsletter of Women's & Children's Free Restaurant

December, 2011

Save the Date and Be a Souper Star!!

The 2012 Souper Bowl will be February 5, 2012. The entry fees from the event are donated to WCFR. This event is an important fundraiser and really helps kick our year off.

Call a friend and make plans now to participate!

This wonderful winter event takes place at the Mt. Spokane Nordic Ski area. It makes a great opportunity to get together with other women and try some outdoor winter activities.

Snowshoeing is fun and easy - anyone can do it. The organizers have snowshoes for you to use.

New this year to the cross-country 10K is a poker ski. You'll collect 5 cards over the course and the best hand wins a prize.

Everyone who registers is entered into a prize drawing and past prizes have included symphony tickets, restaurant gift certificates and massages. And you get an extra ticket in the drawing if you register early!

To register, go to the Souper Bowl website.

Greetings!

For many of us, the holidays are a time to reflect on what we're thankful for---family, friends, and the blessing of good health. All of us at Women and Children's Free Restaurant are thankful we have people in our community who believe in our work and continue to support our programs in various ways. Through your financial contributions, in-kind food donations, the sharing of your talents and time---we are able to make a difference in the lives of thousands of women and children living in poverty-right here in our community.

Like so many worthy organizations in Spokane, we are constantly trying to find ways to "do more with less". As we approach 2012, we know that this ethic will be even more important at a time when so many critical budget cuts are happening.

WCFR is a vital community safety-net. We are see this "safety net" being used by hundreds of women and children for the very first time in their lives. They never dreamed they would be laid off, or that a health issue might prevent them from working. They are making tough decisions for themselves and/or their children.

When people hear of Women and Children's Free Restaurant, we hope they immediately understand what we're all about-filling the nutritional gap for women and children. This means we truly focus on serving high-quality, nutritious food to the women and children we serve.

December is a time when we try to make the holidays a little brighter for those we serve. We're always amazed at the ways people step forward to provide a "special touch" to the women and children we serve. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we were able to provide:

A complete ham dinner wrapped and ready to enjoy at home
Grocery gift cards to help with their holiday meal
A special "dessert bag" filled with all the ingredients to make their holiday dessert.

We were especially thankful to be the recipient of a very caring person who donated a large number of gifts so that WCFR could host a "Santa Workshop" for many who are unable to purchase a gift for their loved ones. Children got to experience the joy of giving by picking something out for their mothers. Other women could chose something for themselves, and something to give. This past week as certainly felt like we were the North Pole!

Thank you for all of the ways you support WCFR.

Honoring a Friendship

The holiday season often inspires generosity. Stories of giving - especially that of anonymous giving - touch us all.

I would like to share with you a story of anonymous giving that WCFR experiences every month! And double so in December.

More than 2 years ago, a couple stopped by with a framed picture of their friend Arlas. The frame contains two pictures including one of Arlas as a young woman. Her glance is off to the side and she has a somewhat shy smile on her face. The second picture in the frame is of Arlas as an older woman - it is not a posed picture, but captures Arlas in a casual moment, sitting on a patio with a can of pop in her hand.

Every month since 2008, WCFR receives $125 donation in cash from Arlas' friends (and $300 during December). We don't know the couple's name and they want to remain anonymous. They always include a short note to Arlas about the happenings in their life and trips they have taken.

Arlas no doubt would feel special knowing her friends choose to remember her this way. Although we don't know Arlas, nor if there is a connection between WCFR and her, we smile each month when we receive this donation. We are grateful to her friends who remember her each month by making a donation in support of our work. We trust that this monthly remembrance in some way provides comfort over the loss of their friend.

We know that the holiday season can be a challenging time when you are missing loved ones. Our hope is that you can find some special little way to remember them and celebrate their presences in your life!

A Final Note

Help continue our work through a donation - you can make a donation on-line at Just Give. If you prefer to mailing a donation, our address is:

WCFR
1620 N. Monroe
Spokane, WA 99205

Thank you.

We hope this holiday season is finds you in good health and surrounded by friends and family.

Warmly,

Marlene Alford
Women's and Children's Free Restaurant