MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Food Bank received some much needed help to fund a busy summer of donations to the community.

Mike Bertholf, service and solutions manager at Moses Lake's American West Bank, presented the food bank with a check for $1,500. Bertholf said the donation is a great way to kick off the summer and help the local food bank, especially at a time when children are out of school

Bertholf also brought in about 30 pounds of food and another check for $92, donated by local customers.

Scott Kilpatrick, of the food bank, said the generous gift is essential to serve the nearly 4,000 families in need every year.

"Local donations like this are critical to our continued operations," Kilpatrick said.

The donations are a result of the bank's food drive in May, which has become an annual event, not just at the Moses Lake branch, but across the Northwest. The bank donated more than $250,000 to food assistance programs in 2012 in Washington, Idaho, Utah and California.

The Community Services of Moses Lake distributes food to 12 food banks in Grant, Adams and Lincoln counties. For more information, visit the Moses Lake Food Bank on 1075 W. Marina Dr. or call 509-765-8101.