Columbia Basin gives more to match need

Food banks see increased use

COLUMBIA BASIN - As Thanksgiving nears, Columbia Basin food banks are feeling the impact of the economy.

The food banks are reporting traffic increasing from families using the services.

Moses Lake Food Bank has 25 percent more customers compared with the same time last year, said Assistant Executive Director Peny Archer.

"That's been a trend across Washington State," Archer said.

Othello Food Bank has 15 percent more people seeking food than normal, and the percentage is expected to rise even more, said Vice Chairman Bob Fuller.

He attributed the current increase to the economy.

"We're seeing more people that are homeless and we're seeing more people that are living out of their cars," Fuller said.

Fuller said winter is also impacting clientele, as farm workers are coming in from the fields.

"As winter sets in, we'll see a 30 percent increase in our clientele," Fuller said.

Donations are keeping up with the increase, but the organization welcomes additional food, he said.

"We're always looking for more donations, whether it's a commercially packaged product or whether it's a monetary donation," Fuller said.

Archer said layoffs at Genie Industries impacted the traffic at Moses Lake Food Bank. The layoffs led to downsizing of suppliers for Genie as well, she said.

"Now they're all getting laid off, so it's been huge," Archer said.

The food bank received 8,474 pounds of potatoes from the Washington State Potato Commission, Archer said.

Some of the potatoes were collected during a field gleaning event, which took place Oct. 14. According to the potato commission, Crestview Christian School, Big Bend Community College's International Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa, and processors and growers joined together for the donation.

All the potatoes have since been distributed.

"It helps," Archer said. "Everything helps."

Ephrata Food Bank Manager Mike Donovan said Ephrata's increase in clientele is less drastic than Moses Lake.

"We're probably around that 15 percent mark," Donovan said.

He said downsizing isn't an issue in Ephrata. Farms continue to operate, as do canning industries from clients working in Quincy.

Warden Mennonite Church Pastor Brad Roth said the Warden Food Pantry numbers typically increase in Warden during the holiday season, so it is difficult to tell whether the economy is impacting traffic.

Many of the residents work seasonal jobs, Roth noted.

"These folks, they are agricultural workers. They live in this area but they don't have full time work (right now)," he said.

Thanksgiving

Some Columbia Basin food banks receive assistance through Northwest Harvest and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For Thanksgiving, Northwest Harvest is providing sliced turkey with gravy, and the Department of Agriculture is providing hams, said Archer. Moses Lake Food Bank distributes the commodities to food banks in Grant, Adams and Lincoln counties.

Food banks in the network include Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Mattawa, Moses Lake, Quincy, Royal City and Soap Lake food banks in Grant County; Othello and Ritzville food banks in Adams County; and Davenport and Harrington food banks in Lincoln County.

Moses Lake Food Bank also receives turkeys, most of which are donated through Samaritan Healthcare's annual drive. Samaritan employees collected 353 turkeys, 7,500 pounds of canned goods and $1,045 in cash and checks during the drive last year.

Warden does not receive governmental assistance, said Roth.

"Our food bank is a ministry of the Warden Ministerial Alliance," he said.

Major supporters include First Baptist Church, Warden Association of God, Warden Community Church and Warden Mennonite Church, he said. Queen Of All Saints Church also contributes, he said.

"We do it to show the love of Christ and to help folks out," Roth said.

The food bank does not distribute refrigerated perishables, he noted.

Warden residents are within the coverage area of Moses Lake Food Bank and are allowed to receive food from the organization once per week, Roth said.

The churches are holding food drives right now, he said.

"Over these last couple of years we've seen a lot of generosity," Roth said.

Donovan said in Ephrata, the Boy Scouts just finished up a food drive. The organization is bringing the food to the bank Wednesday.

Donovan hopes the community can donate high-protein items for distribution.

"I want beans, I want meat, I want tuna fish, I want rice," he said.

Vegetables are also desired, he said.

Where to donate

• Ephrata Food Bank is located at 1010 A St. S.E. For more information, call 509-754-5772.

• Mattawa Food Bank is located at Morris Schott Middle School, 500 N. Boundary Road. For more information, call 509-932-4082.

• Moses Lake Food Bank is located at 1075 W. Marina Drive. For more information, call 509-765-8101.

• Othello Food Bank is located at 1214 E. Oak St. For more information, call 509-488-5686.

• Quincy Community Food Bank is located at 210 1st Ave. S.E. For more information, call 509-787-4963.

• Royal City Food Bank is located at 229 1/2 Balsam St. For more information, call 509-346-9334.

• Soap Lake Food Bank is located at 325 Main Ave. E. For more information, call 509-246-0164.

• Warden Food Pantry is located on the corner of 5th and Maple. For more information, call 509-349-2444.