'We could use just about everything'

MOSES LAKE — The parking lot at the Moses Lake Food Bank was bustling Wednesday morning; customers shopped the produce bins of onions and bananas while volunteers helped other customers load groceries into their cars. Jim Gantenbein, operations lead, said the busy parking lot is an indication of the need for its services. 

With the Christmas season here, Gantenbein said the food bank is soliciting donations to meet substantial demand.  

“We could use just about everything,” he said.  

The need for donations is even greater right now. An Oregon business that donated a steady supply of food announced its closure and made its last delivery earlier this week. Lane Storwick, administrative operations manager, said the closure put a big dent in the food bank’s supply.  

“It was a literal truckload,” she said. 

Gantenbein said it’s going to take a lot of donations to replace it.  

“To give you an idea, that was 52 pallets of food,” he said.  

Along with losing a large donor, food bank usage has increased.  

“That need is not going to go away,” he said.  

The food bank takes donations of cans, bags and boxes of non-perishable food. Foods that can be easily prepared are a bonus, especially for families that have children home from school.  

Local farms help out with fresh produce, Gantenbein said. 

“The farmers and stuff – they're always pitching in. They’re good people,” he said.  

During the summer, the food bank also gets donations from home gardeners, Storwick said, but that source goes away in the winter.  

The food bank also takes money donations, Storwick and Gantenbein said. Food bank operators have the ability to make donated dollars go a long way, with additional sources and the ability to buy in bulk.  

A customer came in during a conversation about donation options to thank Gantenbein and Storwick for the baskets distributed before Thanksgiving. The two said the expressions of gratitude help keep the volunteers coming back. 

“People like that do bring tears to your eyes,” Gantenbein said 

Volunteers are always welcome, too.  

“We have a lot of people that come through. We need volunteers to help them,” Gantenbein said. 

The food bank is open to customers from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Donations are accepted from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on those days.  

Food and money donations can be dropped off at the food bank, 9299 Beacon Road NE. Monetary donations can also be made by mail, P.O. Box 683, Moses Lake, WA 98837.