“I’m new to SNAP- I’ve only been here for a few months,” says SNAP Director of Financial Stability, Renee LaRocca. “But I’ve learned that at SNAP, things move quickly, and being resourceful is at a premium.”
SNAP works to provide pathways out of poverty for over 40,000 Spokane County neighbors annually, and through its subsidiary, SNAP Financial Access, also work on business development to revitalize the entire community.
Their most recent endeavor comes as a response to one of COVID-19’s primary needs: Primary Protective Equipment (PPE).
“Out of COVID, we have seen a number of people laid off. We also know how high the need is for the community to access PPE” says Women’s Business Center Manager, Nicolle Hansen. “My team and I brainstormed and thought of ways we could intervene to slow the spread of the virus while providing employment”.
SNAP and its partner, World Relief, teamed up for an opportunity to provide masks produced by graduates of World Relief’s “WEAVE” sewing class. These sewing artisans have been laid off in the fallout of COVID-19, and offered to produce masks.
“We bought the material, and so far have received donations to pay these SEWERS to make 100 masks,” says Hansen. “Now we have the opportunity to work with them, give them a paycheck, and provide protection to underserved populations who can’t access masks otherwise.”
SNAP has so far covered the material costs to produce the masks, but have relied on donations to provide wages to World Relief’s sewing artisans.
“There was a need in the market,” says LaRocca, “And this was an opportunity for us to do what SNAP does: turn it around to help the underprivileged.”
If you are interested in donating to these efforts, you may visit World Relief’s web page dedicated to these efforts: