3 free food giveaways planned in Tri-Cities. Grants given to local nonprofits
Several Second Harvest of Tri-Cities free food distribution events scheduled this months are among grants, donations and other giveaways helping the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
Free food events
Several food giveaways are planned in Tri-Cities over the next couple weeks.
Second Harvest Tri-Cities Mobile Market plans food distributions:
▪ May 19: 300 food boxes at 11 a.m. at Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Ave. in Pasco.
▪ May 20: 700 food boxes at 11 a.m. at the Toyota Center parking lot, 7000 Grandridge Blvd., in Kennewick.
▪ May 27: 700 food boxes at 11 a.m. at the Toyota Center parking lot.
No appointment is needed, but the events will last only until the boxes are gone.
People are asked to stay in their cars and drive up to have a food box loaded into their vehicle.
For more information and event updates go to 2-harvest.org.
Free golf for front-line workers
Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex is giving a free round of golf of FootGolf to anyone working in the health care, fire, police or state patrol workers.
Tee times are limited to two players and up to four people if all players are living in the same household.
The round may be redeemed through Friday, May 15.
For more information, call Brandon Lange at 509-585-4279 or email brandon.lange@ci.kennewick.wa.us.
21 tons of flour donated
Cascade Organic Flour of Royal City donated 21 tons of whole wheat flour to Second Harvest Tri-Cities.
The flour will be distributed to food banks and families across eastern and central Washington.
Cascade Organic Farms is a family-owned producer of organic wheat, flours and dry beans.
COVID-19 fund grants
The United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties COVID-19 Response Fund has awarded grants to 10 local organizations worth $40,000.
The fund is providing help to Tri-Cities area nonprofits that are feeding the hungry, addressing the mental and behavioral health impacts of the pandemic as well as providing emergency child care. The fund was established in late March.
▪ ANSIL — A New Start in Life: $3,000 for food, supplies, and operations of the ANSIL Hall shelter and Service Center to serve 40 individuals.
▪ Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton & Franklin Counties: $3,500 to provide critical care boxes to 455 families.
▪ Catholic Charities: $3,000 to provide food and transportation support to 32 youth and young adults.
▪ Children’s Developmental Center: $3,000 to buy food and basic supplies for 100 vulnerable families.
▪ Columbia Industries: $5,000 for the Opportunity Kitchen to prepare 455 ready-to eat meals for people in need in our community.
▪ Communities in Schools: $3,000 to provide 150 families of four with food and basic supplies.
▪ Salvation Army: $6,000 for food boxes for up to 320 low-income individuals.
▪ Senior Life Resources: $5,500 for the Meals on Wheels program, to deliver groceries and supplies to homebound seniors.
▪ Tri-Cities Food Bank — $5,000 to provide food and non-perishable items to 2,000 people.
▪ YMCA — $3,000 for early learning and school-age programs for 11 children of essential workers.
Individual donations to the fund are matched 1-for-1 through a grant from a national foundation, and all individual donations go directly to help local people in need. Double Your Dollar donations can be made at give.uwbfco.org/community-response-fund
Labor Day picnic canceled
The Tri-Cities Labor Day Picnic has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event in its ninth year was scheduled Sept. 7 at Columbia Park in Kennewick
“Protecting the health, safety and well-being of our community is paramount,” Dave Hickman, the picnic committee’s president said in a news release. “Put simple, canceling the annual Tri-Cities Labor Day Picnic is the right thing to do during this historic time.”
Online mental health
A new online mental health initiative launched May 7 aims to give Prosser teens and youths resources.
“Mustangs Matter” was created by a partnership between Prosser Memorial Hospital, Prosser School District, Prosser Thrive Coalition, Boys & Girls Club of Prosser and Comprehensive Healthcare.
The site covers topics such as depression, stress, anxiety, suicide prevention and how to help friends experience mental health issues.
Resources for parents and students include phone numbers and text lines for teens to reach medical professionals.
To see Mustang Matters pages go to, www.mustangsmatter.org/dealing-with-stress, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 12:07 PM.