Mom Helping Moms toy drive accepting donations
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 2 weeks AGO
Donation boxes for the Moms Helping Moms toy will be in a number of Moses Lake, Ephrata and Othello businesses through Dec. 19.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | November 24, 2025 3:30 AM
MOSES LAKE — With Thanksgiving and Christmas come the opportunity to help people in need, with a plethora of organizations providing plenty of options. The Moms Helping Moms charitable organization is looking for donations and volunteers to help with its seventh annual toy drive. Founder Jeannie Austin said Moms Helping Moms assisted more than 270 children in 20204, and based on the requests, the need is greater in 2025.
“We are anticipating 500 kids needing help this year,” Austin said.
Donations of unwrapped toys and gifts can be left in Moms Helping Moms boxes in Moses Lake, Ephrata and Othello, which will be out until Dec. 19. Volunteers will be collecting donations of gifts and money on Dec. 6 and 7 in the parking lot outside Ross Dress for Less, 911 N. Stratford Rd.
Families in Grant County and most of Adams County are eligible for assistance, Austin said. All donations are distributed in Grant and Adams counties.
Parents and guardians who want to request assistance can contact Austin through the group’s Facebook page, Moms Helping Moms of Grant County WA. Presents will be distributed on Dec. 21 at Rick’s, 819 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake.
Austin said there’s something new this year – volunteers will help parents and guardians pick gifts for their children, and people will have the opportunity to wrap the presents on site. To ensure privacy, people will leave through a separate exit.
“Nobody crosses paths,” Austin said.
Moms Helping Moms is collecting donations for young people from birth to 18 years of age, gifts for teens as well as toys for children. The group is looking for Christmas stockings and stocking stuffers as well as gifts.
People who want to donate or volunteer can contact Austin through the Facebook page.
Moms Helping Moms gift donation box locations
Moses Lake:
Columbia Basin Herald, 813 W. Third Ave.
Bella Vita Coffee Company, 1845 W. Broadway Ave.
Apex Cannabis, 955 W. Broadway Ave.
Steve Crapson Insurance Agency, 110 E. Broadway Ave.
LocalTel Communications, 223 E. Broadway Ave.
BBSI, 1550 Pilgrim St.
Nest Realty, 107 Legacy Lane
Grant County Veteran Services, 1008 W. Ivy Ave.
Ephrata:
Mike’s Transmission Services. 2060 Basin St. SW
Othello:
RE/MAX - The Brian Gentry Team, 315 E. Main St.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
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