Nonprofits connect with community at Care Fair
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Staff Writer | Columbia Basin Herald
MOSES LAKE — Representatives from 15 local nonprofit organizations filled the Youth Dynamics building Saturday to raise awareness and recruit volunteers. The second annual Care Fair was sponsored by Care Moses Lake, and founder Michaelle Boetger said the goal is to help make connections.
“Our mission is to help out other nonprofits in our community, and also promote giving back. That’s really what we’re trying to do here,” Boetger said.
Attendees could find information about workforce training and service clubs, volunteer opportunities helping build houses or organizing a community celebration, learn about services available to people facing domestic abuse or needing healthcare, among others.
“We’ve got something like 50-plus nonprofits in Moses Lake, and all of them need help of some sort,” Boetger said. “So whether people could give their time — which, they can all use (volunteer) time — or if they could give financially and support them. So it’s really what you want to do.”
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake Coordinator Rebecca Mabius said she wanted to get the word out. Habitat for Humanity has some programs that are relatively new to Moses Lake, she said, and people who might benefit don’t always know about them.
The next Habitat for Humanity house is on track for 2024, she said. In addition, she had information on Habitat’s “Brush with Kindness” program, which works to help people with home repairs. Habitat for Humanity also offers a program to help senior citizens stay in their homes.
“Things that help support the community just as much as a home build does,” she said.
Jacob Gama was part of the crew manning the table for SkillSource, which has a program to help young people finish their high school diploma or earn a GED, and provides help with job training for qualifying young people.
Care Fair and similar events are a way to recruit people directly, he said, but they also make secondary connections. People come by who don’t need SkillSource services, he said, but they know someone who might benefit.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin provided information on its two clubhouses and other programs for children. The Moses Lake Kiwanis Club was recruiting members. The Central Basin Community Concert Association has been around for almost 70 years, but CBCCA volunteer Caren Courtright said there are people who don’t know it presents four concerts per year.
“We’re trying to spread awareness,” she said.
Boetger said the Care Fair is designed to highlight some of the opportunities available to people looking for ways to support their community.
“No matter what your passion is – maybe people feel passionate about youth, kids in our community, or animals or the arts, there’s something for everybody to give back,” she said. “It just makes our community that much better.”
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A small, simple way of giving back: Sandwiches for the unsheltered
By CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE
Staff Writer | Columbia Basin Herald
Michelle Boetger thinks she and her fellow Care Sack volunteers have made over 10,000 sandwiches in the past five years.
“We’ve made a lot of lunches,” she said, as she spread peanut butter on slices of bread.
Volunteers make sandwiches for folks in need
By CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE
Staff Writer | Columbia Basin Herald
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard in mid-March, most things across Washington ground to a halt. At least for a few weeks.
But not the tiny group of volunteers who make up Care Sacks, the organization that provides sack lunches for the homeless and needy in Moses Lake.
Moses Lake store holds food drive
By JOEL MARTIN
Staff Writer | Columbia Basin Herald
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Moses Lake last week launched its 10th annual Independence from Hunger Food Drive, according to a press release from the store’s owners.
The Moses Lake store, owned by Kris and Paul Emerson, is partnering with Care Sacks to collect cash donations and prepared bags of nonperishable foods in-store. The campaign started June 24 and will continue until July 31.
Care Sack lunches delivered to Serve Moses Lake
By MICHAELLE BOETGER
Care Sacks | October 6, 2018
For the past 21 months, a group of volunteers gathers every Tuesday evening to make sack lunches for those in need. The group varies from week to week but they show up, take their places and begin the assembly process. Spreading peanut butter onto bread (donated from the Food Bank), spreading jelly (often donated from Grocery Outlet), putting the sandwiches together, cutting each sandwich, putting into sandwich bags…meanwhile, others get the 60 sacks ready, filling them with applesauce or a fruit cup, a sweet snack like a granola bar or a rice Krispy treat and a salty snack, often popcorn or potato chips (donated from the Washington State Potato Commission).
