Finding the Helpers: Spokane Police officers gather food and games for Arlington Elementary families

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Police officers gathered and delivered boxes of food to six families with students at Arlington Elementary.

The school contacted the Spokane Police Community Outreach unit and officers then facilitated a pick-up at the Martin Luther King Center.

The families who received food boxes are among the most economically challenged in the Spokane community and have had prior brushes with the law.

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According to a release, officers knocked on the doors bringing unexpected food supplies and small steps were taken to build trust and bridge a relationship between police and the community members.

SPD officers were also able to find games for one family and collected homework packets to bring to the young students who had previously missed the pickup time.

Thanks to the help of the MLK Center, all of the families who received food are now signed up or connected with the center to use their food bank as needed moving forward.

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