SPOKANE, Wash. — Free energy-efficiency kits designed to help families reduce utility bills and stay warm during winter months are available for pickup Thursday at four Spokane locations. The kits, distributed by SNAP and McKinstry in partnership with Avista Utilities, are available to anyone in the community.
Each kit includes practical items meant to help insulate homes and cut energy costs: LED light bulbs, window plastic, weather stripping, and draft stoppers. Avista Utilities provides all materials inside the kits.
The program is designed to be accessible. People can drive up to one of the pickup locations and receive a kit without filling out any paperwork.
“The numbers are increasing; they increase each year. We are only in October, and the weather has not dipped into the real lows that they are going to dip into, and we have already seen a huge influx of requests for these bags,” said Lyra Midhoff, Strategic Partnership Coordinator for SNAP.
Demand for the kits has grown steadily. A couple of years ago, the program distributed around 600 kits. Last year, organizers increased that number to 1,000 for the first time to meet growing demand.
Sara Hofstee, Operations Manager at McKinstry’s Inland Northwest office, became involved with the program after needing one of these kits herself.
“I was a struggling mother at one point and needed this type of thing. And now I get to actually give back to the people that are also struggling like I did one time. So it’s kind of a full circle moment for me,” Hofstee said.
Kits are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at all four sites while supplies last:
The Catalyst Building, 601 East Riverside AvenueThe McKinstry Fabrication Shop, 9470 West 21st AvenueThe STA Plaza Kiosk Area, 701 West Riverside AvenueThe McKinstry Offsite Manufacturing Facility, 10015 W Hallett Road
If you miss the pickup window today, you may still be able to pick up a kit at one of SNAP’s office locations.
Organizers say they plan to expand the event to more locations in the future and distribute even more energy-saving kits as demand continues to grow.
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