A caring affair
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 5 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. | September 6, 2024 2:45 AM
MOSES LAKE — There are a lot of ways to do good in Moses Lake, and a lot of folks who would like to help others. The two will come together next weekend at the annual Care Fair, hosted by Care Moses Lake.
“There are more than 50 nonprofits and service organizations playing an important role in Moses Lake,” Care Moses Lake organizer and founder Michaelle Boetger wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. “Whether you feel passionate about helping out our local youth, the animals, feeding those in need, joining a service group … whatever it might be, there’s a group you can support.”
Care Moses Lake’s niche is making sack lunches for those in need. Besides Care Moses Lake, attendees can expect to see representatives from Parent-to-Parent Grant/Adams County, Central Basin Community Concert Association, Imagination Library Moses Lake, Youth Dynamics, Manta Ray Aquatics, Moses Lake Community Coalition, SkillSource, Columbia Basin Dispute Resolution Center and Columbia Basin Allied Arts, according to the announcement.
Along with the nonprofits, there will be glitter tattoos by Amy’s Artistic Expressions, a selfie wall for capturing memories and local authors S. Evan Townsend and Judith Ann McDowell with books for purchase.
A bean bag toss is often part of events like the Care Fair, but Care Moses Lake is taking that a step farther, Boetger wrote.
“Instead of throwing bean bags we’ll be throwing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” she wrote. “We make up to 200 Care Sack lunches every week that have a PB&J. We’ve done this a few times at events this year and it’s so fun.”
This is the third year Care Moses Lake has hosted the event, which this year is timed to coincide with several other events happening downtown the same day: Sip & Stroll, Art on 3rd and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
“The Care Fair has been a great resource to connect local nonprofits,” Youth Dynamics Director Sean Sallis wrote in Boetger’s announcement. “We are thankful for the partnerships we have developed through Care Moses Lake. Youth Dynamics relies on outside funding as a non-profit and we have been able to introduce new businesses, groups and people to our ministry thanks to Care Moses Lake.”
“The SkillSource team is always looking for ways to connect with local businesses and community members,” Emily Anderson, career and training manager at SkillSource, wrote. “Events like the yearly Care Fair allow us to meet residents, share the services we provide as a non-profit and connect with other agencies from the area. We appreciate the effort that goes into planning an event like this and are happy to participate again this year.”
MOSES LAKE CARE FARE
Youth Dynamics
106 E. Third Ave.
12-5 p.m.
Sept. 14
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.