Agency Spotlight: Our Place

Ask Peggy Sammons what gets her to work each day at Our Place Community Ministries and the conversation turns quickly to the people who are helped.

Sammons, Executive Director of Our Place, remembers a woman who wasn’t able to pay her utility bill. Short of funds at the time for energy assistance, Our Place dug deep to help. Days later, Sammons received a thank you card from the woman, who described how she had been contemplating suicide and the support she received made the difference.

For two decades, Our Place has been important to the safety net in West Central Spokane. Sammons was on the original committee formed by several churches 20 years ago to respond to increasing requests for food and other types of assistance. The result was creation of Our Place, a one-stop emergency assistance center that is also part of Second Harvest’s hunger-fighting network in SpokaneCounty.

Our Place moved to its current location at 1509 West College Avenue six years ago. Today, plans are well underway to expand into the remainder of the building. Phase one includes moving the food bank into a larger area and the addition of a walk-in cooler and freezer. In addition, a laundry room equipped with two washers and four dryers available to clients will be added. This is a big need, Sammons notes, as many clients are doing their laundry in their bathtubs.

“We hope to have our first phase completed in October,” says Sammons, “and then focus on adding a kitchen, remodeling our current reception area to make room for a classroom and expanding the clothing bank into the former space of the food bank.”

With only four paid staff members, Our Place depends on about 60 volunteers weekly. They help in the reception area, as well as sort and arrange clothes in the clothing bank, and pack emergency food boxes.

“Our Place is an amazing place,” Jenifer Priest, development director, comments. “What we give out to those who come here pales in comparison to what gifts we receive in return.”

Last year, Our Place provided food, clothing and energy assistance to many households. “The faces have changed, but the needs are still the same, if not more,” says Sammons.

Donations from individuals, grants and support from five area churches meet the needs of Our Place. There’s one donor who drops off milk, cheese and other groceries monthly along with donating his time at the center. “The spirit and generosity of our donors are wonderful,” says Sammons.

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