Basin ag co-op donates $35,000 to ML food bank

MOSES LAKE — Two Columbia Basin farmer-owned cooperatives won a company contest that resulted in a $35,428 donation to the Moses Lake Food Bank.

CHS Sun Basin in Quincy and Connell Grain Growers were the winners in their respective divisions of the Harvest for Hunger fundraiser, said Bill Shibley, general manager for CGG. The parent cooperative, CHS, has sponsored the contest since 2011. CHS Sun Basin won the contest for locations with more than 50 employees, while CGG won the less than 50 employee division.

Shibley said the Columbia Basin is among the most productive farming areas in the world, yet there are still people going hungry, including people who work in agriculture. “It’s crazy, because we live in such an incredibly productive area, but we have hungry people,” he said.

The contest is held each March, with cooperative locations around the country in competition. As a result of their win, the cooperative’s headquarters added a donation.

The Quincy team sponsored a telethon and a roller skating party, as well as a hot dog feed or two. The Connell location held a bowlathon, and partnered with 2nd Harvest of Spokane for a fundraising drive in Tri-Cities. “The results were great,” he said.

The Connell team, Shibley said, raised $16,000 – actually more than that. He was a little fuzzy on the exact amount; it was $16,000 and – and -

“Six hundred twenty-nine (dollars),” said Danielle Bailey, team captain.

Bailey said she was “floored” by the community’s generosity. It’s an important project, she said, because “it helps our community. And it brings our community together.”

The CHS teams have been donating money to the Moses Lake Food Bank since 2012, “and this is by far the largest one-year total,” said food bank director Peny Archer.

The CHS crew brought a big photogenic check to the food bank for the presentation, and a smaller check that actually could be deposited. “The little check is better,” said Huc Dilling, the agronomy manager for CHS Sun Basin.

Summer is coming, school will be out soon and that means many kids will not have access to school breakfast and lunch, Archer said. In addition, people eat lighter in the summer – the bowl of chili that works so well in December isn’t as appetizing in July.

So the food bank is looking for “kid-friendly, faster food,” Archer said, items like tuna, peanut butter and jelly, or items that are easy for kids to prepare.

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