Food bank, company partner to distribute food in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Volunteers from Moses Lake and around Grant County helped distribute about 7,900 pounds of food to needy families recently. The pop-up food bank was the second of the year for the partnership of 2nd Harvest of the Inland Northwest, Spokane, and Microsoft’s Quincy data facility.

The mobile food bank returned to North Elementary for the second year. Data center manager Jack Eaton said the food bank gave out 7,956 pounds of food to an estimated 196 households.

“All food is generously donated to 2nd Harvest by area farmers, warehouses, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations and others,” Eaton wrote. The food bank supplies the food; volunteers provide the manpower and local agencies, schools and churches donate the space.

Along with North Elementary students and the school PTA, volunteers came from the Light of Larson church, The Cellular Connection (Verizon), the Grant County Transit Authority, Thrivent Financial (a Lutheran Church charity), Washington Trust Bank, and Schneider Electric in Quincy. Others came from OIC in Moses Lake and Yakima, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Intuit Quincy data center, Microsoft Data Center Operations and the Moses Lake School District.

About three dozen volunteers packaged fresh broccoli, potatoes, onions and apples, canned tuna, crackers, cookies and bread, among other foods, Eaton said. They filled the food boxes and helped people carry the boxes to their vehicles.

The pop-up food bank project visits communities throughout Grant County during the year. The next one is scheduled for March 23 in Soap Lake. Eaton said he’s looking for volunteers to help pack food and organizations to be co-sponsors. People who are interested in volunteering can contact Eaton, 509-787-6352, jeaton@microsoft.com.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.