By FāVS News
Finding Hope in Gaza’s Terror Tunnels Brief
On Monday, Nov. 10, Chabad of Spokane County will present Sapir Cohen and Sasha Troufanov in their presentation “Finding Hope in Gaza’s Terror Tunnels.” Cohen and Troufanov will share their experiences of being former hostages in Gaza for 55 and 498 days. They will discuss how their faith, humanity and strength helped them find purpose and resilience to survive in “unimaginable darkness,” according to the press release.
This conversation will be at 7 p.m. at the Southside Community Center on 3151 E. 27th Ave. in Spokane. Admission is $30 per person, register for the event here.
YWCA Spokane celebrates 10 years of bringing joy with Hope for the Holidays program
YWCA Spokane has launched its 10th annual Hope for the Holidays campaign, a community program supporting 90 families experiencing domestic violence, homelessness and financial hardship. The initiative invites donors to “adopt” a family’s wishlist, contribute gift cards or make online financial donations. Interested donors visit YWCA’s Hope for the Holiday’s website to sign up for the sponsor wishlist. Gifts can be dropped off at YWCA Spokane on Dec. 3–4 to ensure delivery before the holidays. CEO Jeanette Hauck emphasized the program’s impact in uniting the community and uplifting survivors with care and dignity.
“King of Instruments” organ recital at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Nov. 9
The Spokane Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present “King of Instruments,” a free organ recital on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 3-4:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (316 East 24th Avenue) in Spokane. Featuring chapter members performing both meditative and dynamic selections, the concert will showcase the church’s renowned Zimmer & Sons pipe organ. This performance marks the second program in the guild’s 2025–2026 season, celebrating its 80th year of bringing exceptional organ music to the Spokane community. The event welcomes audiences of all ages, with free admission with donations gratefully accepted.
STCU commits $350,000 to strengthen food security across the Inland Northwest
STCU has dedicated $350,000 to fight hunger during its annual Season of Giving, supporting food assistance programs across Eastern Washington, North Idaho and northeastern Oregon. The credit union will distribute at least $300,000 in surprise donations to more than 40 organizations, including Second Harvest, Partners INW and the EWU food pantry.
Through November, STCU will also match community donations up to $50,000 to its Here for Good Foundation, and separately match employee contributions to any nonprofit, also up to $50,000. CEO Lindsey Myhre emphasized the growing need for food assistance as inflation and winter costs strain families.
Spokane Helpers Network seeks larger space to expand meal delivery efforts
Spokane Helpers Network, a volunteer-driven nonprofit delivering meal kits to residents who fall outside traditional aid systems, is seeking a permanent brick-and-mortar space to expand operations beyond founder Susan McDonald Osborn’s South Hill basement, reported the Spokane Journal of Business this week. The organization, which began as a COVID-era social media kindness post, now mobilizes over 150 volunteers weekly to deliver more than 120 meal kits across Spokane. Each kit provides food for families and often includes hygiene items.
Operating with an annual budget between $65,000 and $90,000, the nonprofit hopes shared space with another organization could help offset rental costs and sustain services. Supported by local partners like Innovia Foundation and Integrus Architecture, Spokane Helpers Network continues to bridge community gaps, reaching those unable to access food banks due to age, disability, transportation barriers or economic hardship.
Moscow’s ‘Mail-Order Cult’: The rise and fall of Psychiana’s unlikely empire
This week, Moscow, Idaho, found its way in WSU’s Daily Evergreen in a feature story on an obscure cult nearly erased from history. In 1929, a Moscow, Idaho, pharmacist named Frank Robinson founded Psychiana, a mail-order religious movement that promised followers “spiritual success” and the power to heal, attract wealth and find happiness through faith and mental focus. Rejecting traditional religion, Robinson claimed to have “spoken with God,” promoting his message through nationwide ads offering biweekly lessons.
During the Great Depression, Psychiana spread to more than 60 countries and became one of Moscow’s largest employers, forcing the local post office to expand operations. Despite its massive following, Psychiana never built a church, existing entirely by mail. After Robinson’s death in 1948, the movement quickly declined, mailing its final lesson in 1953. Today, its legacy survives in archives and at Robinson Lake Park, which he founded in 1939.
Some summaries created with help of AI. Staff still carefully edited material for content quality and publication standards.
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