Organizers hope to continue meal for students, community

For the last three years, members of all social classes, from the homeless to wealthy, have come together for community dinner known as ‘Food For Thought.' This year, the founders, Gonzaga senior David Whitehead and Whitworth senior Katie Petitt, are graduating and thus passing on the reins of the event to a new generation of leadership.

"We are looking for people in Spokane to fill my role, but also smaller positions," Whitehead said. "We are trying to create a board."

Whitehead and Petitt held the first "Food For Thought" in the spring of 2008. It now takes place in November to coincide with National Hunger and Homelessness Week.

"The simple idea is to create an atmosphere where people who don't usually sit together and eat together, sit and eat together," Whitehead said.

He feels the event can be best described by what it is not.

"It is not a feed-the-homeless event," he continued. "It is less about food than the conversation. It is not educational or political. We are using the meal as a medium between two groups."

The Food For Thought Facebook page states: "The goal is for people to partake in honest communication: to experience a viewpoint and lifestyle completely foreign to their own."
The event has grown steadily since it began. According to Whitehead, the first dinner brought in about 150 Spokane residents, the next about 230. Last fall, more than 280 people came to dine.

Whitehead credits this high attendance to the Spokane Homeless Coalition's advertisement of the event. Last year they adopted the event as an official program for the National Hunger and Homelessness Week.

"They used to do a walk around Spokane, from shelter to shelter," he said. "It was poorly attended so they scratched that and gave it to us."

Though Food For Thought is not officially tied to Gonzaga, many students volunteer and Whitehead wants to encourage Zags to apply for the executive board positions.
"It is a unique opportunity," he said. "It allows you to network because it is not just a Gonzaga event. You meet people from all over."

"For freshmen, sophomores, juniors and anyone who is going to be here awhile, it is an opportunity to get a foot in the door in Spokane," Whitehead said. "It is very fulfilling."
Many politicians have attended throughout the years, according to Whitehead.
"It is an opportunity to learn about their constituents," he said. "Election-wise, it is very good to be there."

Past political attendees have included third District Representative Timm Ormsby, sixth District Senator Chris Marr and Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan.
Last year, Whitehead recalls, a City Council member came and heard from homeless people about a healthcare problem, then a month later it was fixed.
"[Spokane Mayor] Mary Verner has not come despite repeated requests," Whitehead said. "We will get her eventually."

"Some political people from Olympia came and many sent aides," Whitehead said.
Whitehead received the idea for "Food For Thought" during his freshman year, while volunteering at the Spokane House of Charity.

"I met a homeless man named Mike Rowles," Whitehead said. "He is one of those guys who has a lot of ideas. He met with us about having a community dinner with the homeless and the wealthy."

"I thought, that is not a bad idea. We could make this happen," said Whitehead, who began working on it with his fiancée, Petitt, shortly after.
They now believe that it could become a Spokane staple. "That would be my dream," Whitehead said.

"It gives a face to the statistics," Whitehead said. "We are not trying to change anything in the material sense, just make people aware."