MOSES LAKE — The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin received some new wheels last week, thanks to Group14 and the Moses Lake Elks Lodge. 

“I swear, it was like the stars aligned,” said Kim Pope, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club. 

In years past, students could take a school bus from their school to a Boys and Girls Club clubhouse. But with the cutbacks the Moses Lake School District had to make this year, that option hasn’t been available, Pope explained. The club moved its teen center to Vanguard Academy in January, she said, because there were so many teens, but students at Endeavor had a long trek to get there and the club’s two vans were already committed at other schools. 

Enter the Elks Lodge.

“We felt that was really important to keep those kids engaged in a positive environment,” said Debbie Doran-Martinez, a trustee with the lodge. “Group14 made a donation, but it wasn't enough for the van. And the $6,000 in grant money that we had available was enough to finish off that project.” 

The grant was actually two grants that the Elks make to local causes, Doran-Martinez explained: a Beacon Grant for $4,000 and a Spotlight Grant for $2,000. Because the lodge was chartered mid-year, it missed out on most of the grants the greater Elks organization makes available in April. The lodge expects to be able to donate more this year when grants become available, she said. 

The van is a 2020 Ford 14-passenger vehicle, which means it can take 12 students at a time. Bud Clary made sure the club got a good deal, and the graphics on the side were wrapped by Signs Now. 

“My club kids have named it the Nice Van because it has heated seats and it has tinted windows,” Pope said. The Nice Van joins the Old Van, the New Van and the Small Van, she added. 

When the Elks handed over the van, it had an additional surprise in it: It was loaded with nonperishable, kid-friendly food. 

“We did a food drive to kind of stock their pantry,” Doran-Martinez said. “We had applesauce and cups of fruit; we had fruit snacks. We had granola bars, mac and cheese, Spaghettios, all kinds of food. Not only for snacks at the clubhouse, but also shelf-stable food, if they knew they had a kid that may not get a meal during spring break unless they send food home with them.” 

Besides the daily transportation, the vans will also be used for educational field trips, Pope said.  

“During spring break, they are going to take that van and take some of our teens on a college tour,” she said. “And we've actually taken one of our vans to (a farm) to teach the kids about processing potatoes.” 

The Boys and Girls Clubs has had a difficult year, mostly due to school district cutbacks. A $175,000 donation in July enabled the club to keep its school clubhouses running through December, and the annual auction in October raised about $250,000. The club not only gives students a place to go after school but makes sure they’re fed every day, which some children can’t always count on at home. 

“(Community support) is making a difference, especially last year and this coming year … with some of the cutbacks that the schools have had to have,” Pope said. “We're always happy to try to fill in the gaps and provide whatever we can, but we can't do that without the community helping. This is just a prime example of how wonderful the community is.” 

    From left: Moses Lake Elks Exalted Ruler Steve Crapson, Secretary Char McDowell, Loyal Knight Carol Crapson, Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Kim Pope, Trustee Kandi Bersanti, Leading Knight Scott Staples, Tiler Janet Staples, Esquire Randy Rosin, Trustee Debbie Doran-Martinez and Lecturing Knight Josh Solonar show off the van purchased with two Elks Lodge grants and a donation from Group14.