Paper of plastic?

Players from the Spokane Chiefs bagged groceries today at Fred Meyer in the Valley to raise awareness and donations for 2nd Harvest.

“The donations people give are incredible,” defenceman Reid Gow. “It's pretty awesome.”

This is the fifth year the team has teamed up with 2nd Harvest and Fred Meyer for the event, according to Chiefs' director of public relations Jay Stewart.

“Gets the boys off the Xbox,” Stewart joked. “Truly what it does is allows them to support the community that supports them so much.”

Darren and Tyler Chandos showed up in their Chiefs jerseys with a bag of food to donate.

“We try to come every year,” Darren said. “Take some pretty good pictures with the players, get a chance to donate. It's an overall pretty good event.”

Players bagged groceries, helped customers get their groceries to the car, and greeted shoppers.

If you’ve ever wanted the chance to get some international exposure, right here in Spokane, now is your chance.

Each year, the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute in west Spokane hosts hundreds of Japanese students looking to learn more about America.

All of the young women come from Mukogawa Women’s University in Nishinomiya, Japan (Spokane’s Sister City). 

Spokane native Nicole Tamura helps coordinate the student’s stays here in Spokane.

“They are here for about 4 months to study English and American culture. Students live on campus in our dormitories and have their meals in our student dining hall. Our homestay program gives our students an opportunity to experience American life outside of campus and dormitory life,” Tamura said.

While the students stay on campus for most of their time in America, the school looks for Spokane families to host two Japanese students for a weekend.

Saying the Spokane Valley Seahawkers are confident about their beloved NFL team's chances in this year's playoffs would be the ultimate understatement.

At the club's meeting before Sunday's matchup at the Georgia Dome against the Atlanta Falcons, members gushed about Seattle's recent strong play, and the Falcons' postseason struggles in recent years.

“They've lost their last three home playoff games,” Lynette Allen pointed out. “We'll keep that streak going.”

The fan club boasts about 80 members from Ephrata to Post Falls, who participate in a myriad of activities – including the famed bus trip to Seattle for a game every season as well as raising money for charities.

This year, the group raised more than $3,000 – as well as donating time – for Shriners Hospital for Children, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, Camp Fun in the Sun, Blessings Under the Bridge and Second Harvest.