Microsoft, Second Harvest food bank comes to Quincy

QUINCY — Volunteers repackaged and distributed about 11,600 pounds of food to families in Quincy June 20, the latest stop in a monthly food distribution co-sponsored by Second Harvest in Spokane and the Microsoft data center in Quincy. Other eastern Washington organizations are partnering with Second Harvest to sponsor food distributions, including some in Quincy.

The food distributed through the “Mobile Market” went to 225 families in the Quincy area.

Volunteers came from the Port of Quincy and its staff, and port officials hosted the food distribution at the Downtown Business & Conference Center. “Great food. Great volunteers. Large community turnout,” wrote Jack Eaton, project manager at Microsoft’s Columbia data center in Quincy.

In fact volunteers came from Ephrata as well as Quincy, and from the Washington State Beef Council. Volunteers came from service organizations like the Quincy Rotary and Quincy Moose Lodge, from Quincy Community Health and Quincy Hardware & Lumber, Serve Quincy Valley, Akins Harvest Foods. The Washington Cattlemen and Washington Cattlewomen and Washington Cattle Feeders Association provided volunteers. So did Columbia Ridge Cattle Company and Beef Counts. Other volunteers came from the Quincy FFA chapter, LC Farms, HH Insurance Services, Dell/EMC services and Quincy’s Microsoft data center. The Girl Scout troop from Ephrata also provided volunteers.

“As she has done so very well this entire year, Cathie Wind of the Quincy Rotary Club managed the event from start to finish,” Eaton wrote.

The beef council donated about 500 pounds of frozen ground beef for distribution. Food also was donated by “generous farmers, orchardists, ranchers, producers, processors, packers, wholesalers and retailers.” The food was transported by Second Harvest. The boxes distributed included fresh apples and green peppers, fresh onions and potatoes, packaged pasta, fresh and frozen bread and bakery products.

Other churches, community groups and organizations are sponsoring food distributions in Quincy, including the St. Paul Lutheran Church and Amway Nutrilite, Easton wrote.

This is the third year Microsoft has partnered with Second Harvest to distribute food throughout Grant County. In 2018 the two will sponsor 15 food distributions around the county. "Mobile markets" are scheduled for Ephrata in July, Royal City in August, Grand Coulee in September and Coulee City in October.

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