Volunteers help fix food bank steps
Mick Hansen, left, along with two other volunteers, poured concrete into forms at the Food Bank Monday morning. The concrete is for a wheelchair ramp that will be installed. Moses Lake Steel and AAA Ready Mix donated the materials.
MOSES LAKE — In about three weeks, Moses Lake Food Bank clients will have an easier and safer time collecting needed items, thanks to the efforts of two volunteers.
Mick and Chris Hansen gathered community members together to re-build the food bank’s stairs and add a ramp to the facility. Construction for the project began Monday morning as volunteers watched workers pour concrete.
“These stairs were just an accident waiting to happen for our clients,” said Peny Archer, the Food Bank’s assistant executive director. “We knew we’ve needed to fix this issue for years, but we didn’t have the time or the resources to make it happen.”
Moses Lake residents Mick and Chris spotted the problem when they decided to volunteer at the Food Bank a few weeks ago. They grew concerned when they noticed senior clients struggling to carry their items down the stairs, Mick said.
“Food Bank volunteers and workers like to fill clients’ boxes as much as possible and watching the older folks carrying these boxes full of food down the stairs was scary,” Mick said. “Many people have fallen over the years. Those steep stairs were dangerous and hard on them.”
Mick and Chris offered to pay to fix the problem and become project engineers to Food Bank board members. Once the board approved, the pair and a few food bank employees created a project proposal and spoke to Moses Lake City Council members.
“The council members really were amazing and bent over backwards to get this project started,” Archer said. “They made sure we were compliant with every ordinance and just jumped right in to get the project approved and completed in a timely manner. I think we are all so fortunate to live in a community that is so supportive and I feel very lucky.”
Supporting the food bank was not even a question for Chris and Mick.
“I’m semi-retired, so I knew I could be either out working on old cars or doing something for the community,” Mick said, laughing. “It just feels great to be able to give back.”
The re-modeling and building are estimated to cost about $10,000, but Mick and Chris expect to pay only half the amount.
“We’ve gone around to several local businesses and people have been more than willing to help build and donate materials,” Mick said. “Having friends give us items we need for free, such as steel for the ramp’s handrails, really brought the cost down.”
The ramp is a switchback model and the stairs are made from steel and concrete. Both are set to last for at least 50 years.
“These changes aren’t just for people in wheelchairs, it’s also because as we age our joints get tired and there are folks with walkers and canes,” Chris said. “The ramp allows people to fill up grocery carts and steer them to their cars.”
The updates also mean people unable to come to the Food Bank are now able, Chris pointed out.
“People ill or weak from a condition will be able to go on an adventure to the Food Bank, which is great for them because it gets them out of the house for a bit,” Chris said. “Everyone seems very excited about the project.”
The Moses Lake Food Bank is located at 1075 W. Marina Dr.
For more information, call 509-765-8101.
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