STORY PROJECT

For more than 55 years, Bonnie has held onto her clinker brick house in North Spokane through a divorce, years of working multiple jobs, and the slow wear of time. Living on Social Security, her greatest fear was simple: the furnace going out in the middle of winter with no way to replace it. A flyer in her Avista bill led her to SNAP’s Home Energy Assistance Program — and a new heat pump that changed everything. “It has lifted my soul into a place where I’m more at peace,” she says. “It is a miracle to me.”

Marcia Dorwin been dedicated advocate for SNAP. She served on the Women’s Business Center advisory board, joined the SNAP Financial Access Loan Committee as a credit analyst, served two terms on the SNAP Board of Directors, and became the inaugural president of the SNAP Financial Access Board. Along the way, she and her husband Timothy became personal donors — because, she says, she felt confident the money would be used well. In this audio feature, Marcia talks about what she believes has kept SNAP going for six decades.

For 60 years, SNAP has operated on the belief that no struggle happens in isolation. In this installment of the SNAP Story Project, longtime Spokane attorney and SNAP Financial Access Board President Nancy Isserlis discusses the “cascade effect” of poverty and why she views the agency’s mission as a complex, protective tapestry. From the “switch dance” of community leadership to the true meaning of being a neighbor, Nancy shares a candid look at the steady hand required to guide Spokane through changing times.

For more than 25 years, Vicky Dalton has played a vital role in Spokane County government. But beyond her public office, Dalton has also spent more than two decades serving SNAP as a board member. In this SNAP Story Project feature, Dalton reflects on growing up in poverty, discovering the importance of organizations that help people move forward, and why she believes SNAP has remained a trusted part of the community for 60 years.

For 37 years, Mary Westerman has been a steady presence at SNAP. Welcoming neighbors, listening to their stories, and helping people through some of life’s hardest moments. Click the audio below to hear Mary share what it means to serve on the front lines, the connections that stay with you, and why being “neighbors by your side” is more than just a phrase, it’s a promise.

Chelsey Dunham, SNAP’s Director of Essential Connections, reflects on how lived experience and community connection shape the way she shows up for neighbors, and why connection matters as much as assistance.

Communications and Philanthropy Specialist Addy Dodd reflects on her work at SNAP, how the organization’s work has evolved—and why continuity among staff matters.

Nicole Bishop’s connection to SNAP began long before she worked here. In this audio story, she reflects on growing up in Spokane, the dignity her family experienced when asking for help, and what it means to now serve an organization that once supported her. 

After years of freezing winters, plastic-covered windows and a furnace that blew cold air, Michelle didn’t think comfort was possible in her 1964 single-wide home. Through SNAP’s Weatherization program, her home was sealed, repaired and made safe. Listen below as Michelle shares how weatherization turned survival into stability and restored dignity, comfort and hope.

Sandra, a Spokane widow on a fixed income, faced overwhelming home repair costs after her husband death, culminating in a failed furnace. SNAP replaced her heating system, restoring warmth and peace of mind to Sandra and her purple house.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

As SNAP marks 60 years of serving neighbors, Kelly Dawn’s story captures what Neighbors by Your Side truly means. As SNAP’s Director of Housing Services, she helps families facing tough choices keep their homes safe and stable. Listen below to hear why Kelly left a career in retail and how her relationship with one client demonstrates how no one should have to navigate hardship alone.