SPOKANE, Wash. – Fresh Soul is stepping up to support the Spokane community with an impressive giveaway on Thanksgiving morning. The nonprofit will provide meals, clothing, and cash to those in need, thanks to the generosity of local donors.
Michael C. Brown, founder of the Spokane East Side Reunion Association (SERA), shared the motivation behind the event. “These meals are for the less fortunate… the destitute, the people done forgotten about… people that really need the help,” he said.
Fresh Soul plans to distribute meals to the first 100 people in line, starting at 9:00 a.m. However, organizers have seen people waiting as early as 2:00 a.m. to secure their spot. Along with meals, the first 100 will receive gloves and a hat to help them stay warm during the cold months.
The giving doesn’t stop there. The first 500 people to arrive will also receive $200 in cash, totaling $100,000 given back to the community. Brown emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “I mean we’re at tough times and times are going to get even tougher… and I’m just blessed to be able to be a blessing to someone else, it’s all God… this is not Michael, this is not Fresh Soul, this is God that’s done all of this.”
The event will take place just south of I-90, west of Thor/Freya, at Fresh Soul (3029 E 5th Ave). The nonprofit is seeking additional donations to expand their efforts and continue supporting the community, not just on Thanksgiving but throughout the year.
SERA, the organization behind Fresh Soul, also runs several programs for youth, including a life skills and job training program for ages 14-18. This program offers a paid internship that combines classroom learning with field experience. Graduates of the program, which boasts a 99% graduation rate, receive a full-ride scholarship from a local donor to attend college. SERA also hosts a summer youth basketball camp and a tennis camp, focusing on serving underserved communities.
Brown highlighted the need for community support, saying, “We’re a nonprofit and nonprofits need money, need help if they want to continue to operate… if we want to keep this ball rolling, my goal is to help 500, next year we going to do a thousand.”
Those interested in donating can contribute cash, checks, or make online donations through the SERA website.
SERA programs : https://www.spokaneeastsidereunionassociation.com/home
