Gesa Credit Union collects gift donations
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 3 months AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | November 22, 2023 2:54 PM
MOSES LAKE — Gesa Credit Union will partner with local organizations to collect and distribute Christmas gifts through its annual Stock-the-Sock Holiday Drive, according to an announcement from Gesa.
Community members are encouraged to donate gifts online through Gesa’s digital wish list on Elfster or in the donation bins located at every Gesa branch, according to the announcement. Gesa, based in Richland, has one branch in the Basin, at 721 S. Pioneer Way in Moses Lake. Stock-the-Sock will run through Dec. 16.
Gifts will be distributed by New Hope in Moses Lake, according to the announcement. New Hope is the organization selected by Gesa as part of its Local Heroes project, which provides funding for Washington organizations that support specific groups that Gesa defines as local heroes, such as firefighters, law enforcement, educators, veterans and healthcare workers.
This year, Gesa’s goal is to collect 500 gifts across Washington, the announcement said. Those who wish to stay up to date with the gift drive goal can visit the tracker posted on Gesa Credit Union’s social media channels and website. Examples of gifts to donate include stuffed animals, Lego sets, puzzles, books and socks.
“Our Local Heroes contribute significantly to our communities every day, and we are grateful for our collaboration with these organizations in distributing gifts to those who need it most,” Amber Merrill, community relations manager at Gesa Credit Union, wrote in the announcement. “Our annual Stock-the-Sock drive is a cherished celebration we look forward to every year, especially as people come together to help others during the holiday season. It’s an honor to be part of this collective effort and it wouldn’t be possible without the support from our members and the community.”
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Space Burger booth open March 13-15
MOSES LAKE — Those who can’t wait for the Grant County Fair can get their Space Burger fix next weekend, according to an announcement from the Lioness Club of Moses Lake. The iconic Grant County sandwiches will be available at the Grant County Fairgrounds March 13-15, according to the announcement. There is no admission fee to get into the fairgrounds that weekend.
SENIOR EVENTS: March 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — Plays, art shows, auctions and more await seniors in the Columbia Basin this month. Here are some opportunities to get out and about in March.
Valentine’s Day cards flood Brookdale Hearthstone with love
MOSES LAKE — Residents at Brookdale Hearthstone Assisted Living in Moses Lake got Valentine’s Day greetings from across the country last month. “I believe that the only states we have not received (cards from) yet are Vermont and Maine,” Lifestyle Director Imelda Broyles said Feb. 24. “We keep receiving new cards every single day. They have not stopped. My residents are in awe with every single one of the cards that we’ve been receiving.” The Hearts Across America project started as a way for children in school classrooms to exchange Valentine’s Day cards with classes in other states or even countries, but the idea has expanded to senior living facilities, according to the project’s social media.