Volunteers distributed more than 9,000 pounds of food

EPHRATA — The 2nd Harvest food bank distributed more than 9,000 pounds of food to residents of Ephrata, along with recipes and cooking tips – March 31. The organization partnered with employees of the Microsoft Data Center in Quincy and volunteers from a number of other organizations.

Working with the volunteers, 2nd Harvest distributed 9,541 pounds of non-perishable food, fresh produce and frozen food, said Jack Eaton, project manager of the Microsoft data center in Quincy. The food was distributed to 183 households and will feed an estimated 582 people.

This is the third distribution in 2016 in the 2nd Harvest-Microsoft partnership. Food was distributed in Quincy in January and Moses Lake in February.

“Throughout the event 2nd Harvest’s Nutrition Team members distributed hot food samples and easy-to-cook recipes to all,” Eaton wrote. The distribution included fresh produce, apples and onions, oranges and potatoes, lettuce and a lot of different bread items, Eaton wrote.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, volunteered its parking lot as a site for the distribution, and volunteers from the church helped pass out the food. Volunteers also came from Ephrata Rotary, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ephrata Food Bank, the Ephrata office of Grant County PUD and the Ephrata School District.

Distribution included volunteer contingents from the Microsoft, Intuit and Yahoo data centers in Quincy, Windemere Real Estate in Ephrata and Quincy, OIC (Moses Lake and Yakima), the Grant County Journal in Ephrata, Thrivent Financial Services (East Wenatchee) and many other businesses, Eaton said.

Distributions are scheduled throughout Grant County each month in 2016. The location of the next distribution will be announced.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columibabasinherald.com.