Documents destroyed for free

MOSES LAKE – Horizon Credit Union and the Columbia Basin Herald partner Friday to offer a free document shredding event for the public.

The event starts at noon and ends at 3 p.m., at Horizon Credit Union, which is located at 1704 S. Clover Dr., Moses Lake.

It is the second year Horizon has offered the service in Moses Lake because it helps community members protect themselves against identity theft, said Juanita Richards, Horizon’s regional credit manager.

“It’s a growing concern,” she said. “People are continuing to see the effects of it.”

Noncredit union members are invited. People are asked to limit their documents to three file-size boxes per family, she said.

“We’re having a live radio broadcast, will be serving light refreshments and offer some small give-a-ways,” she says.

The event was popular last year. “I have had several community members asking me when we would be doing it again,” Richards recalled.

She hopes the event can be held annually at the end of June.

A shred truck comes to Moses Lake from DeVries Business Services in Spokane to destroy the documents. The paper is later recycled.

Columbia Basin Herald Publisher Harlan Beagley said the newspaper is excited about the partnership with Horizon.

“Like Horizon Credit Union, we’re community-minded,” he said. 

“Recycling paper is not new to the Columbia Basin Herald. The paper you’re reading now is up to 40 percent recycled material.”

“It’s a good time to do something great for the environment,” Beagley says.

The added benefit of the event is identity theft protection.

Oftentimes, people leave old check book stubs or ledgers in their home or car, which could be a target for criminals, he said.

During the lean economic times, it’s expensive to do your own shredding.

Friday’s event is a chance to have the service done free of charge.

For more information, contact Richards at 765-0923, ex. 3600.