Grant PUD employees to hold food drive

EPHRATA — Grant County PUD employees will be conducting a food drive to benefit county food banks, beginning Oct. 22. It will be the first “Fill the Bucket” food drive for the PUD; donations will be accepted through Nov. 21.

Utility district employees and line trucks will be soliciting donations at grocery stores around the county, according to a press release from the PUD. Donations will be accepted Oct. 23 at Walmart in Ephrata, on Oct. 24 at Walmart in Moses Lake, on Oct. 25 at Harvest Foods in Royal City and Grand Coulee Safeway. Utility district employees will be at the grocery stores from 4 to 7 p.m. “Grant PUD employees also are donating food and money at in-house events throughout the district,” the press release said.

All donations will be given to the Moses Lake Food Bank, which in turn distributes food to food banks in Grant and Adams counties.

Cash donations will be accepted as well as food. The PUD is looking for cans, boxes and bags of non-perishable food, baby formula and baby food, diapers, personal care items like deodorants, hair care products and laundry detergent, among other things.

“The holiday season typically is a time when food banks need the most support,” said PUD general manager Kevin Nordt. “This food drive allows our employees and customers the chance to work together and support our local food banks during this critical season.”

Utility district officials also are accepting donations to the Share the Warmth program. The program allows customers to donate money to help customers pay their electric bills. Share the Warmth donations are kept in a separate fund; potential recipients are recommended by charitable agencies. Customers can donate any time, by including the donation as a separate line item on their monthly bill. Share the Warmth donations are tax-deductible.

People who want more information on the food drive or Share the Warmth can contact the PUD public affairs office, 509-754-5035 or publicaffairs@gcpud.org.