MOSES LAKE — The city of Moses Lake’s food drive has gone well so far, according to Moses Lake Museum & Art Center Superintendent Dollie Boyd. The food drive, spearheaded by the museum, has received assistance from the Larson Recreation Center and Grant County Fire District 5 Station No. 1.

“People’s (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are starting to come in,” Boyd said. “I know there was a lot of stress about that, but the holidays are still coming around, and we just wanted to do what we could to help out.” Around 250,000 Washington residents should have received their full SNAP benefits for November as of Nov. 7, according to a statement from Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Last Thursday, Federal Judge John J. McDonnell ordered the Trump Administration to fully fund November SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. Following that, the Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to put the court’s decision on hold.

The administration withdrew the appeal after the funding bill was passed by the U.S. Senate with a 60-40 vote and the U.S. House of Representatives with a 222-209 vote.

The food drive started on the first of the month and will go on until Nov. 22. The first week has had a good turnout so far, according to Boyd.

“We filled a van and took it to the food bank yesterday,” she said. “We still have some more food to pick up, and a good handful of days left.”

According to Boyd, food bank representatives said their biggest needs are proteins including hamburger, chicken, beans and peanut butter; canned goods including soups, fruits, vegetables and meat; diapers; formula; and feminine hygiene products.

“This idea came from the museum,” Boyd said. “We got it going and the fire station and the rec center jumped in with us. We have done charity drives before, so it was not outside of our knowledge on how to do this thing and help our community.”

Donation spots:

Moses Lake Museum and Art Center
401 S. Balsam St., Moses Lake

Larson Recreation Center
610 Yakima Ave., Moses Lake

Grant County Fire District 5 Fire Station No. 1
11058 Nelson Road NE, Moses Lake

Donate directly or get assistance:

Community Services of Moses Lake
9299 Beacon Rd. NE, Moses Lake
Monday-Thursday
11 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

Biggest needs:

Proteins: hamburger, chicken, beans, peanut butter

Canned goods: soups, fruits, vegetables, meat

Diapers

Baby Formula

Feminine hygiene products