Spokane Food Fighters is a grassroots effort that believes if given the opportunity, people will join in the fight to end hunger a meal or two at a time. In unprecedented times when problems seem overwhelming and solutions seem too big to get your arms around, Spokane Food Fighters steps in. There are more people than ever struggling with food insecurity. Spokane Food Fighters fulfills next-day emergency meal needs for those who have not been able to be helped through channels like their school district, food pantries, 2nd Harvest or Meals on Wheels.

 In response to coronavirus, State Representative Marcus Riccelli, who believes food is health; two techies, Robbi Katherine Anthony and Patrick McHugh; and a local philanthropist/activist with a passion for kicking the system in the shorts and solving problems in a nimble fashion, Sharon Smith, decided to rally each other and the community to help neighbors in need find their next meal. At the same time, they wanted to help the restaurants that were abruptly impacted without warning. Putting the two together meant that, via donations, they could help restaurants and deliver nutritious meals to those in need.

 From concept to launch, Spokane Food Fighters was born in less than one week. The website, app, restaurant relationships and donations began in record time and they were able to hit the ground running at the beginning of the pandemic. 

“In less than a month, we delivered more than 13,500 meals,” says Riccelli. “This is well beyond our wildest dreams, and is in part due to our partnership with 2nd Harvest, who is supplying us with 15 pound emergency food boxes providing for approximately 12 meals each.” 

As the demand for support expands, Spokane Food Fighters is in most need of cash donations. To donate, or to sign up for a meal delivery, please visit spokanefoodfighters.org,