ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
We are committed to providing hot meals and making basic resources accessible to the homeless youth in the Greater Spokane area. We strategically partner with local non-profits because we believe the key to community development is collaboration. Together, we know it is possible to give our homeless youth a chance at a better and more sustainable future. OUR STORY The Greater Spokane Food Truck Association (GSFTA) has been serving up mobile food to the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene masses since 2012. In 2016, members of the Association decided it was time to give back so, that is exactly what we did. We spent our off-season holding monthly events to feed, clothe and warm the homeless. Each event served homeless men, women, and children who received food donated by our members and clothing gifted from our community. In November 2017, GSFTA Gives Back received its 501 (c) (3) designation, which allowed us to receive donations to further expand our ability to serve our community. Since then, we have our annual fundraiser, OoozaPaloooza, Lilac Food Truck Festival, among others, and running digital campaigns in addition to our give back events. We were satisfied with these efforts but we saw an opportunity to grow and empower the future of our community through helping homeless youth. Summer 2019, we kicked off this initiative with the Spokane Valley Partners to extend their “Food for Thought” Program from June through August. The GSFTA members provided subsidized meals for 58 youth this past Summer and Giving Backpacks partnered with us to provide free unlimited bus passes. The youth were able to redeem their meals from participating Greater Spokane Food Truck Association members and the unlimited bus pass gave them the chance to not only travel to redeem meals but, the chance to access transportation throughout the summer months. We see providing food and transportation as more than a meal and a ride. It is our goal to not only provide hot meals and bus passes but, to assist in providing the opportunity for these youth to have the necessities needed for a more normal life. This work inspired us to refine our mission to match our present day vision and we hope you too will join us in supporting our future. |