Author: Jessica Willard

February is Black History Month, and as we take time to reflect on the past, Second Harvest is thankful for organizations like the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center working to help families prepare for a better future through education and connection.

Created in 1970 as the Southeast Spokane Youth Center, programs evolved to serve children, families and seniors. They currently offer a wide range of educational support, a summer youth academy, senior services and the Dr. MLK Jr. Food Bank.

Open to anyone in need of food, people are invited to visit the food bank once per week, and no appointments are required. The food bank is open 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Working to serve all of those in need with a personal touch, the pantry’s director, Melanie Flores, shared, “My favorite part about being part of the food bank is talking to clients as they come in. I like to see how they are doing while serving them with food. It’s also great to see the smiles we get from our clients.”

King believed that food security was a basic human right, and food should not be denied to anyone under any circumstance. As he once stated, “Why should there be hunger and privation in any land, in any city, at any table when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life?”

Reaching out to help a neighbor, sharing a kind word or a smile are ways that each of us can live the teachings of King and many others. We can all make a difference right here in our local community, not just this month, but every day of the year.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities and services provided at the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center, please visit https://mlkspokane.org/.