Potato Commission makes donation

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC), which is headquartered in Moses Lake, made life a little brighter for one community with a 2,500-pound spud donation.

The WSPC invited all state legislators to visit its booth during the event. Those who did were entered into a drawing to win 2,500 pounds of fresh potatoes to be donated to a food bank or charity of their choice.

Representative Joe Schmick, from the 9th legislative district, won the drawing. He elected to donate the food donation to Second Harvest Tri- Cities located in Pasco.

"I had the privilege of visiting Second Harvest in Pasco last year to see the wonderful things they're doing for those in need," said Schmick. "Their selfless efforts are making a difference in our communities but this is certainly a reminder that more needs to be done.

The WSPC will be working with Second Harvest to arrange for the delivery of potatoes in the upcoming weeks. It is estimated this donation will provide more than 7,500 servings of potatoes to people in the Tri-City area who rely on support from food banks.

"The holiday season is usually a time of giving, but the needs in our communities are year round. I encourage folks to take a look at their situation to see if they are able to give back to help those less fortunate," Schmick said. "Organizations like Second Harvest do a fantastic job of making sure assistance makes it to those who need it the most."