Spokane restaurant steps up to feed community as food assistance cuts loom

SPOKANE, Wash. — Local restaurants and food banks are stepping up to feed families who could lose their federal food assistance benefits Saturday if the government shutdown continues.

One in five people in Spokane and more than one million people across Washington are at risk of losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that help put food on their tables.

Several local organizations are doing what they can to help make sure people don’t go hungry.

On Thursday, 2nd Harvest set up a drive-through food bank at Fairchild Air Force Base, with a long line of cars showing up.

Downtown, Skewers Armenian Restaurant is getting ready to hand out free meals starting Saturday.

Owner Mirak Kazanjian says they’ll be serving chicken shawarma with pita bread and sauces, including options for people who are dairy-free.

“We have certain meals that we can do at a low cost to us and be able to offer them free to the community,” Kazanjian said. “All it takes is cooking a little bit extra every day and making it work.”

Word is already spreading, and Kazanjian says the response has been bigger than expected. He’s planning to double or triple the amount of food he originally planned on serving.

Pat Castaneda, who runs local nonprofit, Manzanita House, said he is grateful for the action Skewers is taking.

“[Kazanjian] is showing so much support to the communities we serve and to our relatives. It’s very important to us,” Castaneda said. “I’m sharing that on my social media for friends to come and support that initiative.”

Kazanjian hopes other restaurants and businesses will follow his lead. He also asks that, instead of making donations to his restaurant, people support local food banks and other community resources that are built for this kind of crisis.

“For right now I’m just encouraging people that are considering donating to us, to instead donate to a local food bank or find out other resources in your community that are going to be pillars at this time,” Kazanjian said.

To reserve a meal at Skewers Armenian Restaurant, you can call them directly at 509-456-5656. Kazanjian suggests calling ahead to reserve a meal. You can also reserve a meal a day in advance.