Thanks given for help

Soroptimist International delivers 150 food baskets to area's needy families

MOSES LAKE — Considering it's nearly winter and the temperature inside an abandoned building on Third Avenue is in the 30s, Ruby Helmbolt is not cold.

Moving her arms as fast as she can, Helmbolt is one of many volunteers taping boxes together to create Soroptimist International of Moses Lake Thanksgiving baskets. Four hundred fifty boxes were made and will be delivered today to needy families throughout Moses Lake.

Everything from a Thanks-giving turkey to milk, eggs, cranberry sauce, a roasting pan, two loaves of bread, potatoes, pasta and canned goods are placed in each box.

Soroptimist International of Moses Lake has been performing the service project since 1985.

The first year, only five baskets were done, said Soroptimist co-chair Faye Maslen.

Succeeding years have increased dramatically to 139 last year and 150 this year.

All the food baskets go to needy families in Moses Lake and are dropped off at locations throughout the Moses Lake School District and businesses for pick up by needy families.

Food for the baskets is donated by local businesses and individuals.

"The more we get volunteered, the less we have to purchase," Maslen said.

Each year, Soroptimist International of Moses Lake puts on a holiday bazaar, a chair auction and Mother's Day tea to raise funds for service projects like the Thanksgiving food baskets.

Over the years, the budget has increased, enabling more food to be placed in the baskets.

A couple of years ago each family only got half a turkey, Maslen said.

The story behind how milk became a regular item for the Thanksgiving baskets is one that brings a smile to both Maslen and Helmbolt's faces.

One time a young boy at one of the elementary schools got so excited about having milk to drink he said 'oh, Mom, now we can have milk on our cereal,' Helmbolt recalled.

Paul Templeton is not with Soroptimist International of Moses Lake, but came to give a helping hand as an outside volunteer.

Templeton cannot recall when he started helping out.

"I don't count the years," he said.

In the past, Templeton has done everything from tape boxes to deliver baskets to families.

"We want to give people a hand up, not a hand out," Maslen said.