One in six children face weekend hunger in Spokane. Tom and Gail Stevenson are helping change that—and more.
Every Friday, teachers quietly tuck food packs into students’ backpacks across Spokane and the surrounding area. Inside are hearty staples like chicken noodle soup, cereal, and peanut butter, along with nutritious snacks. For children who might otherwise go without, these packs are a lifeline.
“Kids facing food insecurity aren’t thinking about school,” says Tom Stevenson, retired CPA and co-founder of Bite2Go. “They’re thinking about how to get food for the weekend.”
Since its start in 2011, Bite2Go has grown from serving 400 children each weekend to more than 12,000, thanks to a powerful collaboration with Second Harvest and over 170 businesses, churches, and volunteer groups. The program invites supporters to “adopt” schools, assemble food packs, and deliver them—ensuring no child faces hunger when class is out.
“What I love about Bite2Go is that it’s this huge partnership,” Tom reflects. “Schools, volunteers, and organizations all working toward one purpose: making sure there are no hungry kids in Spokane.”
Tom and Gail have long believed in the power of giving to strengthen their home community. Through the Thomas J. and Gail D. Stevenson donor-advised fund at Innovia, they’ve found a simple, tax-savvy way to support Bite2Go and other causes close to their hearts.
We love our community and know what a special place it is. There’s joy in giving, especially when you can see the difference it makes.”
Since 2011, the couple has distributed more than $700,000 to programs uplifting local youth and families—including the LaunchNW Promise Scholarship, Maddie’s Place for newborns in need, and Family Promise of Spokane’s efforts to end family homelessness.
“We’ve had so many blessings,” Gail shares. “At some point it dawns on you that you need to look out and see how you can make a little bit of difference.”
Through their giving, Tom and Gail hope to spark opportunities for children—not just through meeting immediate needs like food security, but by investing in education and the future.
“We love our community and know what a special place it is,” says Tom. “There’s joy in giving, especially when you can see the difference it makes.”
For Spokane’s children, that difference is measured in full backpacks, thriving classrooms, and dreams for the future that now feel within reach.
