Center is accepting, loving place to serve

Mission Community Outreach Center (MCOC) served 2,644 children during the two pickup days of its annual shoe giveaway in August, up from 2,485 in one day last year, said Ali Norris, executive director.

She attributes the increase to listening to people in 2025 and learning that with just one day, people had to wait in line, and some left to go to work or errands without picking up shoes.

This year, families could also register online. Those who reserved shoes could pick them up on Thursday, as well as Friday, reducing the need to wait in line. Having an extra day meant more children received shoes.

Ali said word-of-mouth spreads awareness of the shoe giveaway and the need for volunteers.

As part of its 30th year, the center is temporarily closing for a two-week renovation from Sept. 25 to Oct. 22. On Oct. 11, MCOC will not be accepting donations, be open for shopping or have volunteer workers come so they can make improvements to update the space.

Each week the Mission Community Outreach Center relies on 45 volunteers to receive and sort clothing in the back room, stock it in the front room, and welcome guests at the front desk. Many come as friends and tell other friends about the opportunity.

"It's a welcoming, accepting and loving place to serve," Ali said. "We have few restrictions. MCOC is open to anyone in need, regardless of their zip code. Also, no identification is required to receive services."

Families can come every 60 days for clothing, household items and hygiene products, and every 30 days for diapers.

In 1996, Mission Community Outreach Center was founded by a group from Mission Community Presbyterian Church. Soon after, MCOC became an independent nonprofit clothing bank for the neighborhood.

The center now offers clothing, hygiene items, diapers and housewares such as bedding, dishes, pans and utensils, so someone moving into housing can sleep and eat.

"Diapers are one of our biggest items—for newborns to children's size six and adult diapers," commented Ali.

In 2025, Mission Community Outreach Center gave out 240,000 articles of clothing, 15,000 hygiene products and 230,000 individual diapers, serving 23,395 individuals.

Community members donate gently used clothing. The center buys diapers and hygiene items, with diapers supplemented by Partners Inland Northwest.

"We buy most diapers to keep up with demand," said Ali.

They also buy most hygiene items, so they keep stocked up. Sometimes churches and community groups do collections.

One third of funds is from individual donors, another third is from churches, and the final third is from community groups, including grants from Rotary and Kiwanis for shoes.

"We accept no city, state or federal funding, which frees us from the ups and downs of such funds," Ali explained. "It also frees us from having to set up barriers, beyond how much and how often guests can receive items."

Families can choose three tops, three bottoms, two socks, two underwear, one pair of shoes and one coat per person per household. Parents do not need to bring everyone with them to shop.

"I love that we ask few questions. We are here to serve people without barriers. By not asking why they need help, we offer a welcoming, loving environment for those in need," said Ali.

The center runs like a store. Guests feel like they are shopping, choosing from quality, clean items. Volunteers go through all clothing to assure its quality.

Ali, whose mother is a social worker, started working as part-time office administrator at MCOC after earning her master's degree in public health from Eastern Washington University in 2017.

"I fell in love with the work," she said, "because we serve anyone who needs us without asking people to jump through hoops. We are here to love them wherever they are in life.

"Rather than offering a food bank or rental help, we hope that providing essential items gives families extra funds to help pay for rent or food," she added.

Serving the same families multiple times through the year, volunteers offer companionship from the time families come new to the area, often as immigrants, to when they are established and return to give clothing for others.

One family gave diapers, because of how important diapers were for them. Some also come back and volunteer.

"People are grateful because they know we are here as long as they need help," Ali commented. "I've learned in this work the best thing we can do is to listen to the people we serve and learn from their experiences.

"Both from those we serve and those who donate, I have gained a positive perspective on people's kindness. Donors want to help people in whatever capacity they can," she added.

In addition to Ali, there is a part-time operations manager, Lauren Martin, but the rest who work Monday through Friday and sometimes on weekends are volunteers. In 2025, volunteers put in more than 6,000 hours.

There are three days of shopping—1 to 4 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays.

Volunteers—most of whom are of retirement age because the center is open during the day—come from the community and support churches, which also provide funds for items.

Church, youth and Bible study groups, businesses, nonprofits and volunteers are all an important part of the MCOC community, Ali said.

Ali listed the support churches: Beautiful Savior, Bethlehem, Holy Cross, Hope, Redeemer, Prince of Peace and St. Luke Lutheran; Hamblen Park, Manito, Millwood Community and First Presbyterian; Spokane Valley and Manito United Methodist; Summit South Hill and U-District, St. Aloysius Catholic, Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ, Calvary Chapel, Life Center and Cheney Nazarene churches.

"As a child, I saw my mother doing social work and my whole life, I have seen both parents involved in the community," Ali said. "I have learned that being part of the village is important. I can't imagine not being part of the nonprofit world.

When families have access to quality used clothing, it means that the kids feel good when they go back to school, and the adults have confidence when they are seeking a job.

"We are here to support people when they go through tough times," said Ali, who earned a bachelor's degree in international studies and political science in 2013 at the University of Idaho.

After college, Ali was an intern for U.S. Senator Patty Murray in Washington, D.C., and then served a year with AmeriCorps, helping Cheney Parks and Recreation with after-school programs and sports.

While she valued her internship in D.C., she decided she wanted to serve the community in non-political ways. So, she did her master's degree in public health because of its impact.

Ali, a member of Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, began attending there when she was about two years old. For four years, her family lived in Germany when her father did civilian work at Ramstein Air Force Base.

"Living abroad gave my sister and me a chance to see the world in a different way than we would have if we had just stayed here," she noted.

Growing up in Spokane Valley UMC, she participated in mission and service teams, and volunteered with nonprofits, which is how she first connected with Mission Community Outreach Center.

"Our church seeks to transform the world by serving people where they are with love and without judgment," she said. "It's second nature to accept and love people, to be Christlike in the community."

Ali is aware that Mission Community Outreach Center reached the milestone of its 30th year because of the support of churches and community.

For information, call 536-1084 or email mcoc@mcoc.org.