A levy, a food bank, and a matter of timing

The latter can be said of the April 28 special election for the one-year special levy for Public Hospital District No. 1 for Okanogan and Douglas counties.

For those shouldering the hardships and uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic that has businesses shuttered and employees on financial life support, words offer little relief and no remuneration. That said we are counting on our own Three Rivers Hospital and its dedicated staff to absorb whatever magnitude of shock the coronavirus might deliver to our region.

Three Rivers is already on the ropes financially from the double-tap of pandemic preparations and a state order to suspend all non-essential procedures for the duration of this present crisis. The hospital needs our support more than ever and while it may seem painful right now to approve the measure for 2021 funding, please vote for its passage.

I love the place and its people. They have patched me up in the past. When my wife was only 16 years old, her mother took her last breath in the original hospital building in 1963, so to me, it’s sacred ground.

I know times are tough and will probably get tougher. I know the timing isn’t the best. But we can ill afford the risk of losing such a critical and worthy resource that is the heart of our community.

Vote Yes. Please.

Bridgeport Food Bank

After a quarter-century run and a two-year closure, the Bridgeport Food Bank is back in business thanks to the efforts of a pastor couple who breathed new life into the Foursquare building and resuscitated a vital service to residents.

Carlos and Zuni Henriquez relocated to Bridgeport from Moses Lake a little more than a year ago to found the Wellspring of Life Church in the same building that earlier was home to the Bridgeport Community Church at 1300 Foster Avenue. The previous church also ran the food bank that served hundreds in the Bridgeport area. When the Community Church pastor left two years ago the church closed its doors leaving the food bank with nowhere to go. Despite the best efforts of Bridgeport Mayor Janet Conklin and others a suitable space that could house the service, cover its operating costs and provide insurance could no be found.

Conklin has been working with the new pastors for several months to help them connect with the right people and agencies to fast track the revived venture.

With help from Britany Meiklen, Director of the Food Distribution Center in Chelan and the National Guard out of Wenatchee the Henriquez’s kicked off their initial food distribution last Friday, April 3. Conklin helped by printing and distributing flyers announcing the event. Obviously, the word got around to such an extent that scores of vehicles showed up early on the big day and the available food was gone by noon. The new food bank will now distribute its inventory at 7 p.m. every Friday.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Conklin. “And the timing could not be better with the current state of affairs.”

There’s that word “timing” again. But the Bridgeport Food Bank and those who have worked so hard to make this happen when folks need it most deserve our applause and praise for a good job at a good time.