MOSES LAKE - The Salvation Army recently added service extension sites in Ephrata and Mattawa because of the rising cost of gas.

"Common sense dictates you have to have a local site," explained Ken Palek, of The Salvation Army's Moses Lake Service Center.

From March 2010 to March 2011, gas requests from clients doubled at the Moses Lake site, he said.

In March 2011, clients were provided with 10 gas vouchers and five bus tickets.

The need for other services, such as utilities and lodging assistance, doubled in the past two years, he added.

At the Moses Lake location, there was 217 requests for assistance, 248 referrals, in which people were sent to other organizations, 137 interview sessions with individuals, and seven home visits in March, Palek said.

Home visits are done, in some cases, because people cannot leave their homes. One example is that of a lonely, elderly person without food, needing mental health care.

The organization's goal is to someday add other sites in the Grand Coulee/Electric City and Quincy/George areas, he explained.

Ephrata's site is located at the Ephrata Nazarene Church, 33 D St. NE. It is open on Monday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The following services are provided as limited emergency assistance regardless of a client's income source: food, lodging, transportation, clothing, utilities, rent and prescriptions.

Mattawa's site can be found at the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic, 210 Government Way. It is open the third Thursday of each month from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The following services are provided as limited emergency assistance, regardless of  a client's income source: food, transportation, clothing, utilities, rent and prescriptions.

There is also a site in Royal City, at the Royal City Nazarene Church, 279 Calla St., open every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

In Royal City, the following services are provided as limited emergency assistance, regardless of a client's income source: food, transportation, clothing, utilities, rent and prescriptions.

For more information, call The Salvation Army's Grant County Service Center office at 509-766-5875, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.