MOSES LAKE — The volunteers and staff have it down to a science at the Moses Lake Food Bank when it comes to distributing Thanksgiving food baskets. Chickens and eggs, potatoes and onions, bread, canned goods – on Monday of Thanksgiving week, food bank customers don’t even have to get out of the car.

Basket distribution continues from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; Monday is the day for drive-through distribution.

Food bank workers will be available from 7 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday to take donations, said director Peny Archer. On Monday, donations were being unloaded at the side door even as food was being distributed in the parking lot.

Customers received one or more chickens, depending on household size, bags of potatoes and onions, canned goods to fill out the holiday meal, bread and even some cookies. Archer said the food bank gave out 1,478 baskets in 2015, and in 2016 “we’re prepared for 1,500.”

Volunteers young (middle school and high school students) and old (retirees) swarmed the food bank parking lot – directing traffic, checking eligibility, loading boxes and bags into cars. (They had to take extra care with the egg cartons.)

“There are more (volunteers) even than normal,” Archer said. “I’d guess close to 60 (people).”

Traffic was heavy at the opening bell, but thinned out as volunteers efficiently moved customers down the line. Within an hour the first rush had been accommodated. “Three years ago, we had it backed up half a mile on Broadway,” remembered four-year volunteer Casey Cooper, who was there with members of the Royal Rangers.

The Rangers are a faith-based mentoring program for boys dating back to the 1960s, Cooper said. Along with activities, “we like serving our community,” Cooper said. “It’s what Rangers do.”

There were 10 volunteers from the Moses Lake ward of the LDS church. “We donate and then we help out,” said Jeanne Brown, who was one of them.

“It just warms your heart to be able to help out people who are having a hard time,” Brown said. “The Lord blesses with so much, it’s good to give back.”

Thanksgiving is the busiest week of the year at the food bank for distributing food, Archer said in an earlier interview. At Christmas toys are added to the mix, and the annual toy drive, Operation Friendship, is already underway.

The food bank is open week in and week out, and food and money donations are needed year-round; a big distribution date like Thanksgiving always strains resources, Archer said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].