REC Silicon boosts turkey donations
REC Silicon employees load turkeys at Lep-Re-Kon Mart in Moses Lake. The turkeys are bound for the Moses Lake Food Bank.
MOSES LAKE - REC Silicon employees nearly doubled the amount of turkeys they donated this year to the Moses Lake Food Bank.
Their contribution of 231 turkeys is used to help needy families enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner. Families also receive side dishes to complete the meal.
"They know the need in the community and we're blessed to have jobs," said Rod Garza, a facilitator with the company's workplace accident risk reduction team, on Friday.
This year, employees completing two routine safety observations at the plant donated one turkey each.
As a result, employees helped keep fellow workers safe and helped the community, he said.
"It was a motivation to get them to do more inspections than usual," said Penn Weaver, another team member. "We can never have too many."
Garza, Weaver, and employee Michele Bingham, were on hand at Lep-Re-Kon Market to facilitate the donation.
Last year, the employees gave 120 turkeys to the food bank.
Scott Kilpatrick, the food bank's management consultant, said they fed about 1,800 families last year for Thanksgiving.
This year, they expect about 2,000 families.
The need for food bank services increased by about 20 percent across the board.
Last year, turkeys were cut and portioned for families as supplies dwindled.
"There's just a lot of people hurting," Kilpatrick said. "We hope to be able to give a whole turkey to all families."
Another 1,800 turkeys are needed.
International Paper in Moses Lake donated 3,500 boxes to be used for the Thanksgiving food distribution, he said.
To help feed families at Thanksgiving, call the food bank at 509-765-8101, or visit Horizon Credit Union to donate toward the holiday meal.
Horizon Credit Union is located at 1704 Clover Dr., Moses Lake.
The donation account is listed under Community Services of Moses Lake.