Local organizations benefit from Rotary Club COVID-19 grants
Ruben Balderas, a bus driver for People For People (PFP), installs a hand sanitizer dispenser in a PFP bus. The hand sanitizing stations were purchased with a grant through the Rotary Club of Moses Lake.
People For People/Courtesy photo
MOSES LAKE — Three Moses Lake organizations have received funds from the Rotary Club of Moses Lake for COVID-19-related needs.
Steve Ausere, president of the Rotary Club of Moses Lake, said that the club has received a total of $2,000 to pass on to local groups. The money came from Rotary Foundation grants as a way to help local clubs help their communities. The Moses Lake club first applied for two $500 grants, which they gave to Monroe House and Columbia Crest. Upon seeing that funds were still available, the club applied for an additional $1,000 grant, which it gave to People For People.
The grants are supposed to be used for personal protective equipment to protect against COVID-19. Monroe House is using the money to purchase face shields, masks and gowns.
“It was a very nice surprise,” said Linda Edwards, executive director for Monroe House. “We are really grateful for it.”
Edwards said that, so far, the Monroe House facility has not had a positive COVID-19 test in either staff or residents.
“We’ve worked hard to keep it that way,” Edwards said.
According to Austere, Columbia Crest also purchased gowns as well as gloves. People For People used most of the money to purchase and install hand sanitizing stations in 26 buses and at the entrances of its operations building. What money is left will be used to purchase hand sanitizer refills, according to Gabriela Jacobsen, operations and driver supervisor for People For People. Jacobsen said that customers have been asking for hand sanitizing stations.
“This worked out great for us,” Jacobsen said. “We put them in over half of the fleet.”
In a social media post on Oct. 1, People For People thanked the Rotary Club of Moses Lake, saying that the “additional PPE equipment will enhance our current safety practices ensuring the safety of our drivers and the general public.”
Austere expressed his gratitude that the Rotary Club was able to access the grants that had been “allocated for local needs, which is great.”
The Rotary Club of Moses Lake meets each Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. During the era of COVID-19, the group has moved its meetings from the Pillar Rock Grill to the online meeting platform Zoom. Anyone interested in learning more about the Rotary Club of Moses Lake can visit facebook.com/rotaryofml.
Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@columbiabasinherald.com.