The YMCA of the Inland Northwest is committed to eliminating food insecurity and hunger in Spokane County by feeding children nutritious meals and snacks. Working with USDA, school districts and other agencies, the Y provides thousands of meals and snacks, at no cost, for children regardless of their participation in our programs.

Childcare Centers:

Early Learning programs at the Central Y and Eastern Washington University serve meals made from scratch using whole foods. Young children in our preschool programs explore a variety of fruits and vegetables, enhancing their taste buds for healthy foods.

Summer Meals:

Breakfast and lunch are free and available for all children 18 yrs and younger. Regardless of their participation in our programs, any child is welcome to eat with us.

“Students who receive free or reduced lunch during the school year experience significant food insecurity during the summer months. The YMCA is committed to making sure the youth in our community receive the nutrition they need year-round thanks to the Summer Food Service Program,” says Heather Buhl, YMCA of the Inland Northwest Child Care Services Executive.

The Summer Food Service Program is a federally-funded, state-administered program. For more information, contact Angela Hanni at 509 777 9622 x 4160. Summer Meals Toolkit.

After School Meals:

All 19 of the Y’s after school sites provide healthy, nutritious snacks as part of the program. At the Central Y, after school dinners are served to all teens in the Teen Center, including newcomer children and teens from World Relief during the school year.

Safe Sitter® Babysitting Workshops

Ages 11-16

Better Sitters Today. Better Parents Tomorrow.

Prepare your teen for a future of babysitting through our Safe Sitter® Workshops. Created by a doctor, this course will teach your teen or adolescent what it takes to be a safe, nurturing babysitter and how to gain the confidence to be successful. These foundational skills can be beneficial throughout life, especially in future interactions with children. First Aid and CPR certification are not included in this course but will be addressed. Fee includes a Safe Sitter Student Manual and  up to 6.5 hours of instruction.

• Meal break provided. Please bring your own meal.

See Schedule/Register

Workshops are available for your group or club. For information on scheduling a special workshop, please contact Jade Smith.

Classes must have at least 5 students registered by closing on the registration deadline. If not, we will need to cancel the class and offer to transfer to a future session.

For more information, please contact Jade Smith.

Youth Legislature – Spokane Delegation
Grades 8-12

The YMCA Youth Legislature is a student-led program, offering teens the opportunity to learn about our system of government, develop leadership skills, and make connections with other community-minded teens in the area. Student participants have the opportunity to attend the Youth Legislature in Olympia with hundreds of other teens from around the state. Weekly meetings are casual, with many opportunities for hands-on learning about democracy, as well as debate of issues chosen by the students. Participants will:

• Learn about state government and how citizens can affect policy and law in Washington State.
• Build skills to debate effectively and constructively about important issues.
• Share ideas with other local students, learning about the things that matter to their peers, and enhancing their ability
  to ask the right questions.
• Develop leadership abilities that are grounded in the Y’s core values of honesty, respect, caring, and responsibility.

Not sure if you are ready to register? Meetings are open to any student who would like to drop in and see how the program works — come out and see what Youth & Government’s all about!

Youth Legislature:

Next program session registration will be open Aug 2024

• North YMCA Delegation: Tuesdays,  5:30 – 7pm at the North YMCA. Meetings begin October.
• Central YMCA Delegation: Thursdays, 5:30 – 7pm at the YMCA Corporate Office, 1126 N Monroe St. Meetings begin September.

Registration Closed

Legislative Session: May 2025 Dates TBA (Prerequisite: Youth Legislature program)

Registration Closed

For more information or if you are interested in getting a Youth Legislature Delegation started at your school or youth center,
please contact Maddy Strait at mstrait@ymcainw.org

Youth Leadership Spokane

High School Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

YMCA of the Inland Northwest and Leadership Spokane joined forces to produce the Youth Leadership Spokane (YLS) program.

YLS is a 10-month civic leadership training program based on the principles of servant leadership and cultural competence for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. It is designed to develop the next generation of community-minded leaders by creating strong and healthy youth, and empowering them for service to each other and their community. It is a great way to get to know teens from other schools and gain the skills and connections with area leaders to become successful young leaders.

Deadline is May 15. 

Go to Leadership Spokane to apply or for more information.