We want people to walk in on their worst day and, and feel like they're getting hugged by their community.

[Upbeat Music] [For generations,] [that sense of community has been at the heart] [of Partners INW.]

Our history goes back, uh, really to post-World War Two.

When uh, Spokane Valley community, saw the need that people were, having hardships.

Families were struggling after the war.

And so they started working together, which is kind of unique.

It was grassroots.

Uh, just to provide for their neighbors.

And that's really where we, where we started.

And then the Valley started growing.

And, it just became a pretty big job.

And so they founded this nonprofit in 1990, and we've been operating, with that charter and that mission since then.

That was given to us by the community.

[And more than 75-years later] [that mission remains much the same.]

Our services include giving away free critical resources.

So it's food, it's clothing, it's diapers, it's hygiene supplies.

Primarily that comes through people giving us things to give to the public.

And they know that anything they donate here, goes to the public for free.

And so they really like that option.

And then most of our diapers we purchase.

We do have some donated, but most of that has to be purchased.

[And keeping those resources stalked] [is a community effort.]

Our website always lists what is urgently needed.

It's never, just one thing.

We always need food.

The amount of people we feed could fill the, Spokane Arena almost twice a month.

So food flows fast.

And we can never have enough.

So, If the public can donate shelf stable food, that gives us more opportunity to schedule how we release that.

[Partners also works with the Central Valley School District.]

[Providing food for its entire Bite-To-Go program.]

Im John Parker and Im the superintendent for the Central Valley School District.

And we serve about 14,300 students.

Across 80 square miles.

And there is a significant poverty issue in Central Valley.

In a place you might not it would be.

We have 47 - point... roughly 5 percent.

Almost one out of every two students are free and reduced lunch.

And for a school district to be able to have someone like Partners come in and fill noticeable gaps beyond what the school district provides with its lunch program its, its a game changer.

[But, they measure success] [by more than just volume.]

When you serve so many people, its uh, sometimes about the numbers and you get focused on the tens of thousands of people that you're touching, and you don't focus on the penny, the one.

And so for me, success looks like, one person or one family, needs help and they're able to walk through our doors and we can make a significant impact on their immediate need.

I think that's the success.

Is the individual.

[Wether someone needs help,] [wants to give,] [or simple wants to get involved.]

[Partners hopes its name] [means something.]

It's trustworthy.

It's kindness.

It's instant help.

I think those are the things.

Responsiveness.

Yeah, we have certain things that we do; food, clothing, diapers, emergency assistance.

Those are almost cliches or... I don't know, buckets.

But for anything I just if people hear Partners, I want them to feel like thats a safe place for me to get involved.

It's a safe place to donate, safe place to volunteer.

It's a safe place to send somebody I know who needs help.

That's a safe place.

And you know they're going to help.