Senior lunch in Emerson-Garfield
Lunch at Corbin: Soup, Salad Bar, a Hot Entree, and Company
A hot lunch with people who save you a seat, for a suggested $5, and nobody is turned away if they cannot pay.
Lunch is a suggested $5. Corbin serves lunch four days a week in Spokane, starting at 11:30 to confirm: lunch days and time. You get soup, a salad bar, a hot entree, dessert and drinks. Nobody is turned away if they cannot pay. Guests of any age sit with you, and somebody will say hello.
What is for lunch?
Every lunch has the same five things.
- Soup. A pot of it, hot.
- A salad bar. Take what you like.
- A hot entree. The main plate.
- Dessert. Yes, every day.
- Drinks. The coffee is easy to find.
The entree changes to confirm: menu rhythm. The Newcomer’s Guide has this month’s lunch menu, so you can see what is coming before you come. The honest part: Corbin is a former church, the floors creak, and the soup is better than anything on Monroe.
Who sits at the tables?
Members here range from 30 to 100, and about 1,400 belong, so the tables are mixed. Sit anywhere. If you come alone, a table host will walk you over and introduce you to three people. You will know three names before dessert.
When is lunch served?
Lunch is served four days a week, Tuesday through Friday, at 11:30 to confirm: lunch days and time.
| Day | Lunch |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:30 to confirm: lunch days and time |
| Wednesday | 11:30 to confirm: lunch days and time |
| Thursday | 11:30 to confirm: lunch days and time |
| Friday | 11:30 to confirm: lunch days and time |
Come a few minutes early on your first day. A name tag will be waiting at the desk, and a table host will walk you to a seat. On Wednesdays, the lot fills by 12:30 to confirm: Wednesday lot-full time. Pinochle is the reason.
What is the international lunch?
Once a month, lunch goes international. The kitchen serves dishes from another country. The monthly date and the price are to confirm: international lunch day and price. Watch The Communicator for the date.
It is a good day to bring a friend.
What if I can’t pay?
Lunch is a suggested $5 donation. Nobody is turned away. Claudia Ouwerkerk, Corbin’s Executive Director, put it this way:
"If they can pay, great. If not, we take care of it."
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Claudia Ouwerkerk, Executive Director, Spokane Journal of Business, Nov 2025
Eat your lunch. If $5 is hard this week, it is a suggestion this week.
What is Feed Spokane’s food program?
Feed Spokane hands out recovered food at Corbin twice a week. In 2023, 8,352 families got food at Corbin.
The distribution is its own program, apart from the lunch menu. Call (509) 327-1584 and the front desk will tell you when it runs.
Who serves lunch?
Volunteers serve lunch. About 40 of them work beside five staff, so the person handing you a tray is part of the team that keeps the doors open.
Want to be one? Apply to volunteer. You can serve one lunch and see how it feels.
Why is lunch so cheap?
Corbin is a nonprofit. The City pays $31,500 a year, the same as in 2013. It costs $45,000 a month to run (Spokane Journal of Business, Nov 2025). Tours, events, rentals and the people in the room make up the rest, which is why lunch is a suggested $5 donation.
If you want to help with the rest, you can give to Corbin. A gift helps keep lunch a suggestion.
Is lunch a good first visit?
Yes. Lunch is the easiest first visit. Everyone sits down at the same time, and the food gives you something to talk about. Stay for a class or a game after if you like, or leave when you want. Nobody asks you to join on your first day.
How do you come to your first lunch?
- Tell us you’re coming. Use the visit form, or call (509) 327-1584.
- Walk in. Your name tag is waiting at the desk. A table host introduces you to three people.
- Eat. Soup, salad bar, entree, dessert and drinks. Leave what you can, or nothing.
We call this The First Lunch. If you would like company in the room, say so on the form.
Frequently asked questions
How much does lunch cost?
Lunch is a suggested $5 donation, and nobody is turned away. If you cannot pay, eat anyway. Your first lunch is on us to confirm: first lunch free policy.
Do I need to be a member to eat lunch?
No membership is required for lunch to confirm: lunch open to non-members. Come as a guest, and join later if it feels like yours.
Can the kitchen handle special diets and allergies?
Tell the front desk when you call, and we will ask the kitchen to confirm: can the kitchen handle special diets and allergies. If you have a serious allergy, call before you come.
Can I take lunch home?
Ask at the desk to confirm: take-out lunch. Lunch is built for the table, because the company is part of the meal.
Can I bring a child or grandchild?
Yes. Lunch is open to all ages to confirm: lunch open to non-members and all ages. Tell us how many are coming, and we will save seats together.
How do I volunteer to serve lunch?
Tell the front desk, or use the volunteer page. About 40 volunteers help, and you can start with a single lunch.
Ready for lunch?
Soup, a salad bar, a hot entree and a seat with your name on it.
Suggested $5 - nobody turned away - three names before dessert
Global blocks on this page, from 00-global.md, not rewritten here: Announcement bar, Header navigation, Mobile call bar, Newcomer’s Guide signup block (after the FAQ), Footer.