Our Mission
The N.E.W. Hunger Coalition is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization of 16 food banks and nine community partners in rural Northeast Washington are working towards stabalizing and strengthening the emergency food system while working to address the root causes of hunger in our communities.
The N.E.W. Hunger Coalition is working together to end hunger in Northeast Washington.
Our Vision
Today we are working to stabilize emergency food distribution while simultaneously working to address the root causes of hunger at a more sustainable and deeper level. Some of the issues being addressed:
- little access to healthy produce and fruit
- unhealthy eating habits
- lack of gardening, cooking, and food preservation skills
- how to budget or shop for healthy food
- availability of unhealthy food in our schools and communities
Our Story
The Hunger Coalition was originally convened by Bob Campbell, Chief Executive of Providence Health Care Stevens County (PHCSC) and Michele Sakurai, Manager of Pastoral Care and Mission (PHCSC) in Colville Washington.
They were concerned by the many health related issues of hunger showing up dramatically in the medical system and wanted to do something to address hunger.
The first meeting of the Hunger Coalition was in September 2011. Members have been meeting monthly since then at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Colville WA.
Our Coalition
Several entities work together to make this coalition work. Hover over each slice of the apple to learn more about how we all work together.
The benefits of working collaboratively include:
- Fundraising
- Communications
- Education
- Shared Resources
Click on each slice of the apple to learn more about how we all work together.

Food Bank Members
Our Food Bank Members provide critical food for children, families and seniors.
Click the "Our Food Banks" button in the menu to explore our Food Banks.
Food Bank Members
Our Food Bank Members provide critical food for children, families and seniors.
Click the "Our Food Banks" button in the menu to explore our Food Banks.
Operational Partners
Our Operational Partners help us do the work we do on a daily basis delivering food.
Operational Partners
Our Operational Partners help us do the work we do on a daily basis delivering food.
Community Partners
Our Community Partners support us with donations of money and services.
Community Partners
Our Community Partners support us with donations of money and services.
Staff & Volunteers
Our Staff and Volunteers are the passionate, hard-working boots on the ground that make the work of the Coalition actually work.
Staff & Volunteers
Our Staff and Volunteers are the passionate, hard-working boots on the ground that make the work of the Coalition actually work.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors rasises money, makes key strategic decisions, and keeps the financials & staffing structure humming along.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors rasises money, makes key strategic decisions, and keeps the financials & staffing structure humming along.
Statewide Partners
Our Statewide Partners keep an eye on the larger issues of food access, delivery, and funding.
Statewide Partners
Our Statewide Partners keep an eye on the larger issues of food access, delivery, and funding.
Board of Directors
Sherry Vokoun, Board President, Chewelah Food Bank
David Keeley, Vice President, Kettle Falls Food Bank
Patricia Reneman, Board Treasurer, Kettle Falls Food Bank
Lori Truitt, Board Secretary, Community Member
Karen Myers, 2nd Vice President, Community Member
Board Members:
Ann Fackenthall, Tum Tum Food Bank
Aja Bridge, Rural Resources Community Action
Mary Selecky, Providence Health Care Board
Ron Rehn, Providence Health Care - Stevens County
Shannon Rowley, WSU Extension, Stevens County
Robert Campbell, had the initial vision of starting the Hunger Coalition. He was troubled by poverty related hunger showing up as health issues in the health care systems and founded the Providence N.E.W. Hunger Coalition along with Michele Sakurai in September, 2011. Bob retired as Chief Executive for Providence Health Care Stevens County, working in health care administration for over 30 years.
Bob Esvelt [in memory], Bob was raised near Daisy, Washington on a dairy farm and has returned and has lived in the Rice-Daisy area since 1980 after 9 years in higher education. He has a B.S. degree in Zoology in 1975 from Washington State University and earned a PhD in Biochemistry in December 1979 after researching Vitamin D metabolism and physiological function. Bob served as President of the Board of Directors for the Kettle Falls Food Bank for the past three years. He has been active in the Democratic Party for over 20 years serving as Stevens County Chair, State Committeeman and 5th congressional district representative to the Washington State Democratic Committee Executive Board. Bob was a farmer for the past 30 years and has many connections and partnerships with local farmers.
Dr. Michele Le Doux Sakurai, Interim Executive Director
Michele managed Mission/Community Benefit/Pastoral Care/Ethics for Providence Health Care Stevens County. She holds a Doctorate of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary, an M.A. in Theology from University of Portland, a M.Ed. in Adult Education from Oregon State University, was a post-graduate fellow (with an emphasis in Mission) for Trinity Health Care, is CAP (Change Acceleration Process) trained, received LEAN training as part of her “Foundations of Leadership” training with Trinity, and has been nationally certified as a chaplain for over 20 years. As past chair, she managed policies, monitored the budget and was the Board liaison to the general members and co-facilitates the monthly member meetings.
Gael Treesiwin, was one of the early catalysts that had a passion to mobilize this group of food banks that had not yet begun to work together. Her skills in grant writing and capacity building for nonprofit organizations has helped every food bank learn new skills and find new money.
Past Board Members:
Pam Borders, served as our Secretary for the first seven (formative) years. She was an employee of Providence Mount Carmel Hospital managing all of the hospitals outside vendor contracts and is assistant to program staff.
Cliff and Sarah Nelson, served as founding board members. They were both very involved on the Board and in management of the Loon Lake Food Pantry and Resource Center.
Lloyd Ward served as our Treasurer for the first seven (formative) years. Lloyd retired to Colville, Washington in 1993 from a military career. He is actively involved in helping solve hunger, employment for youth and support for our Veterans.
Past AmeriCorps/VISTA Volunteers:
Lindsey Edmunds, was our first AmeriCorps VISTA Gleaning Coordinator for with the Harvest Against Hunger Project. Lindsey had the grace and style to start a new program that introduced the local farmers to ways they could sell their produce and glean the excess with our assistance.
Matt Morse, the second AmeriCorps VISTA Gleaning Coordinator for with the Harvest Against Hunger Project. Matt was able to add some systems work into our gleaning and Farm to Food Pantry program. He also helped build the first “Cool Pup” trailer to move small amounts of food throughout our region.
Our Partners
The partnerships that keep the N.E.W. Hunger Coalition operating are the community’s real heroes. We would like to thank the following business and organizations that make us what we are. We are truly fortunate to be partnering with such generous and caring organizations.
Operational Partners

Providence Health Care System is not only a vital partner, they are the founders of The Hunger Coalition. Bob Campbell, former Chief Executive and Michele Sakurai, Manager of Pastoral Care of Providence Health Care Stevens County identified hunger as one of the leading issues in the county. With the desire to find the gaps of services, fourteen of the leading organizations in food distribution were brought together for the first time to discuss the challenges they face. What resulted was the founding of The Hunger Coalition in September 2011. Today we are uniting fourteen food banks and thirteen organizations working to promote a healthier and more sustainable community.
It all began with a single observation and the desire to change it: “I believe hunger is one of our greatest needs in Stevens County.” - Bob Campbell
The outcome of this statement: NEW Hunger Coalition Formation

Washington State University Stevens County Extension connects the people of Stevens County to the research and knowledge from the state’s land grand research university providing solutions to local problems and stimulating local economies. Our county-based educators work with partners in your communities to provide educational programs and leverage the broad resources of a major university to resolve issues and create a positive future for the residents of Stevens County.

Northwest Harvest is Washington’s own statewide hunger relief agency. Our mission is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger. Our vision is that ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington State.

Colmac Coil Manufacturing, Inc. generously designed and donated a custom, refrigerated trailer as part of our Cool Pups program. The goal of the Cool Pups program is to provide fresh and healthy produce to northeastern Washington community members experiencing food insecurity.
The Cool Pup trailer Colmac Coil provided will keep this produce in peak condition during transport from 12 local farms to 17 food banks within Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties.

Since 1965, Rural Resources Community Action has helped residents of Northeastern Washington help themselves and each other. Through education, resources and support, we offer real hope to children, seniors and families, by working to create a stronger and more stable community for us all.
Each year, 14,000 people in Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Whitman and Stevens Counties turn to Rural Resources for short-term assistance and long-term solutions to help them take control of their lives and their futures.

Second Harvest, founded in 1971, leads a network of 250 neighborhood food banks and meal centers throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Second Harvest provides 1.7 million pounds of donated food each month to help feed hungry people.

The Avista Foundation is a community investment program of Avista providing funding to non-profit organizations addressing the needs of communities and citizens served by Avista Utilities.
Avista donated $3000.00 to get our original Cool Pup refrigeration trailer back in working order. Through their generous donation, we were able to repair the generators, install tow hitches, and purchase new ac units, jacks, and rolling carts for loading and unloading.

KeyBank generously supports NEWHC's food bank program, Farm to Food Pantry. With recent increases in food and fuel prices, we have seen an increase in people turning to our 17 food pantries for assistance.
NEWHC used the generous funds from KeyBank to purchase healthy fruits and vegetables and distributed them to food pantries in three counties. During the 2022 growing season we delivered 26,000 pounds of produce! KeyBank's support allowed us to fill the gap between state funding and need.
Community Partners

- Tri County Economic Development District (TEDD)
- UMC/Ministerial Association
- Kids Program (Summer Lunch)
- Stevens County Commissioners
- School Districts
- Northeast Washington Tri-County Health District
- Dept. of Social and Health Services
- Libraries of Stevens County
- Feeding on the Spot
- Faith-based lunch programs
Statewide & REgional Partners

- Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
- Catholic Charities – Food For All program
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Washington Nonprofits
- LINC Foods, a Local Inland Northwest Cooperative
- Washington Food Coalition