MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake’s food bank is getting more space in the garage, at a time when operators say it’s necessary.

The food bank’s director, Peny Archer, said donations were higher to the point that existing constructions on Marina Drive lacked space. For example, a construction on the organization’s assets on Grape Drive is being renovated to make it a safe food warehouse.

“We are flooded with consumers and food,” Archer said.

The allocation is funded in full through a federal grant provided to price-compliant organizations related to the COVID-19 outbreak, Archer said. The estimated allocation fee is approximately $330,000.

The construction features a new steel roof and exterior cladding, as well as interior insulation, interior cladding and safer doors. It will accommodate single-storey refrigerators and refrigerators, as well as garage spaces for cans, boxes and non-perishable food bags.

It is located on a particular asset to locate a new food bank, and food bank officials are running to finance the project. The structure is undergoing renovation that will be modernized after the structure of the new facility, Archer said.

But the existing grant can be used to repair or renovate existing facilities, he said, so the renewal allocation has been moved.

“Food flows, but we’re starting to see an increase (in customers),” he says. “It’s not drastic yet, however, there is a construction.”

Archer said there appears to be an increase in the homeless population and that many of the new consumers arriving at the food bank don’t seem to know Moses Lake. Most homeless people in the domain are food bank consumers and get to know them. Now we’re seeing new homeless customers, he said.

The food bank still accepts food and food donations, which can be made at existing facilities, 1075 W. Marina Drive.

Those wishing to donate to the structure of the new food bank can contact food bank operators at 509-765-8101. The structure allocation earned $2 million from the state’s investment budget for 2019-20. And, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Vancouver, agreed to adjust dollar-for-dollar donations for the structure to $300,000, Archer said.