Othello Housing Authority donates $25,000 to Othello Food Bank

OTHELLO — The new Othello Housing Authority apartment complex not only benefited its residents, but also the Othello Food Bank. The food bank received a $25,000 donation from the OHA, which Jose Garza, executive director of the food bank, said will be welcome. 

June is the end of the food bank’s fiscal year, and the timing of food bank allocations can get a little tricky, he said. 

“This time right now, the donation) is crucial,” Garza said. “It’s really important to have those resources.”  

Angie Gomez, OHA executive director, said the donation comes courtesy of the new apartments about two miles east of Othello. 

“As part of our low-income tax credit application to build our Rocky Point Apartments, we indicated that we would allocate some of those funds to support local housing needs in our community,” Gomez said. “The donation was $25,000, and it had to go to a nonprofit organization to support low-income housing or any programs that assist with low-income to moderate-income families. That was the use for the donation, so we donated to the Othello Food Bank.” 

The housing authority and the food bank have a long history of working together. 

“We actually own the building the food bank is in,” said Thalia Lemus, OHA board president. 

It’s provided to the food bank free of charge, Lemus said. Housing authority employees also maintain the building and take care of the grounds, Gomez said.  

The food bank, located at 949 East Main St., distributes food weekly, but also helps people find other services they need. Its workers also provide information on topics like nutrition for children and adults. 

The food bank gets more use when school is dismissed for the summer; children are eating more meals at home. Othello is busy in the summer as farm workers and seasonal workers come to town.  

“The need for certain programs and certain services is crucial,” Garza said. 

The money will be used to support food bank operations, he said. 

Othello is growing, Garza said, which will increase the need for more services – which will increase the need for more support for local charitable organizations. Donations of food or money can be dropped off at the food bank during its operating hours. The food bank is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Seniors can pick up food from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday.  

Donations also can be mailed to P.O. Box 152, Othello, WA 99344, and there’s a donation portal on the “Get Involved” tab on the food bank website, www.othellofood.org. 

The housing authority operates nine properties throughout the Othello area, Gomez said, with the Rocky Point Apartments, the newest. Between the properties, OHA provides 305 units. 

There are plans to expand Rocky Point, she said.  

    The Othello Housing Authority donated $25,000 to the Othello Food Bank May 28. Front row, (from left) Agnie Garza, Othello Housing Authority executive director, Gracie Garza, OHA board member; Delia Dominguez, Othello Food Bank board member; Thalia Lemus, OHA board president, (second row, from left) Janice Baginski, OHA board member; Jose Garza, food bank executive director; Jacob Gama, food bank board member; (back row, from left) Danny Solis, OHA board member, Terry Thompson, food bank board member, and Jessie Dominguez, OHA board member.