Gesa ‘Stock-the-Sock’ gift drive begins
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 10 months AGO
Gesa Credit Union is holding its annual Stock the Sock gift drive through Dec. 9. Gifts may be dropped off at Gesa’s Moses Lake branch, 721 S. Pioneer Way.
FILE PHOTO
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, 2024 2:40 AM
RICHLAND — Gesa Credit Union announced Wednesday the beginning of its annual “Stock the Sock” gift drive.
From now through Dec. 9, community members are invited to donate gifts through Gesa’s digital wish list on Elfster or by dropping off new, unused toys at any Gesa branch location. All donated gifts will be distributed to support the efforts of local hero groups, including firefighters, law enforcement, educators, healthcare workers, and veterans, as well as to various community organizations helping families and individuals in need this holiday season, according to the announcement.
Gesa’s Moses Lake branch is located at 721 S. Pioneer Way.
In addition to the gift drive, Gesa is partnering with Triumph Foundation, which empowers individuals with spinal cord injuries, and Gifts of Hope, an organization dedicated to providing support and resources to those in need, according to the announcement. Gesa team members will shop for items to benefit local children and families, which will be distributed to these organizations to help further their mission.
This year, Gesa aims to collect 500 gifts across the Pacific Northwest, according to the announcement. Community members can track the campaign’s progress on Gesa’s social media channels, where updates will be posted on the collection goal and stories of impact. Examples of gifts to donate include stuffed animals, books, puzzles and gloves.
Donations gathered at Gesa branches will be distributed to those in need by local hero organizations across the region, according to the announcement. Locally, the distribution point will be the Salvation Army’s Moses Lake Service Center, 212 S. Alder St.
“The holidays are a time to come together, and we’re honored to join our local heroes and community partners in creating a special season for families who need it most,” Brandon Allison, AVP of Training, Education and Community Outreach at Gesa Credit Union, wrote in the announcement. “Seeing the community rally together every year is truly inspiring — each donation, whether a toy or a warm coat, is a reminder of the kindness that connects us all. Thanks to the generosity of so many, we’re able to make a bigger impact and bring even more joy to others this season.”
For more information about Gesa Credit Union’s involvement in the community, visit https://www.gesa.com/community.
Stock the Sock
Nov. 20-Dec. 9
Gesa Credit Union
721 S. Pioneer Way
Moses Lake
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”