EPHRATA — It’s that time of year again to start shopping and preparing for the holidays. For some local families, however, the holiday season is marked with financial difficulties.

In December 2014 the Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) decided to do something about that and delivered a little holiday cheer for local deserving families. The idea was hatched to serve Christmas “A-Rest” warrants to local families in need of rest. Officers, various county officials and clergy members joined INET members in delivering the much needed “A-Rest” warrants. The outreach has reached eight families over the past two years, serving them with Christmas presents, gas cards, decorations, grocery cards, movie tickets and various other essentials. Last year INET raised $5,000 in cash and donations to give the respective families.

“Specific real needs - like a working oven and a dining room table - were filled for these families. Judging by the smiles on the faces of the children and their families who were ‘served’ over the past two years and the absolute joy the Warrant Service Team felt helping others, the project was a huge success,” stated the sheriff’s office in a release.

INET is looking to continue spreading cheer in 2016 and is soliciting donations to help duplicate the special experience that past recipients of “A-Rest” warrants have had over the past two years.

“Momentum has grown for our third-annual A-Rest Warrant service. We started earlier this year and plan to serve three more families who are truly in need of ‘A-Rest’ in 2016. Our ‘investigation’ will be complete for warrant service on December 19,” explained the sheriff’s office.

An account has been set up at two Granco Credit Union locations, 217 Alder St. SW in Ephrata and 401 E. Fifth Ave. in Moses Lake, under “A-Rest Warrant” for people looking to make monetary donations. Donations such as gas cards, movie tickets, grocery cards and unwrapped gifts for children are also being accepted.

For more information contact Leslie Gonzales at 509-855-1289 or Matt Messer at 509-750-9524.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.