Wild Horse visitors fight Kittitas Valley hunger
FISH food bank benefits from community’s generosity
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (May 28, 2009) – More than 100 pounds of food and $1,000 will go to help fight hunger in the Kittitas Valley thanks to the community’s generosity in supporting Friends in Service to Humanity (FISH) through a food drive at Puget Sound Energy’s Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility. From April 1 to May 21, visitors to the Renewable Energy Center (REC) at Wild Horse were encouraged to bring canned or non-perishable food as a way to help their neighbors during tough economic times. The food drive coincided with the REC opening for its second season as an educational and tourist attraction.
During the nearly two-month food drive, the REC attracted more than 5,000 visitors, including local school and community groups. Visitors donated 130 pounds of food and $240 in cash contributions to be delivered to the FISH Food Bank of Ellensburg. In addition, PSE will donate $850 to the food bank.
PSE’s contribution is the result of the utility donating one dollar for every pound of food collected, and its pledge to match the community’s cash contributions three-to-one. In total, FISH will receive $1,090 in cash contributions donated by both visitors and PSE. As an incentive for visitors to donate food, the visitor who brought in the greatest amount of food won a model wind turbine.
“The people of the Kittitas Valley care about their neighbors, and the success of our Wild Horse food drive proves their generosity,” said Roger McCune, executive director of FISH. “We appreciate the work done by the community and PSE in helping those in need.”
Construction underway this spring and summer will add 22 wind turbines to the 127 turbines currently at Wild Horse, increasing the wind energy site’s capacity to generate clean, renewable power as well as its positive impact on the local economy. In 2008, Wild Horse paid more than $1.3 million dollars in taxes to Kittitas County, a figure that is expected to increase following the expansion, and has created jobs for 25 full-time employees.
FISH, which has served the community for nearly 40 years and is located at 301 W. Second Ave. in Ellensburg, will use the food collected by Wild Horse visitors to help feed families in the Kittitas Valley.
The REC is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. until Nov. 30, weather permitting. The center is located just north of Interstate 90, approximately 16.5 miles east of Ellensburg, at 25901 Vantage Highway. Driving directions and maps to the center can be found at PSE.com.
Media contact
David Bowen, 509-964-7916
About Puget Sound Energy
Washington state’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a 6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and nearly 750,000 natural gas customers. PSE meets the energy needs of its growing customer base primarily in Western Washington through incremental, cost-effective energy conservation, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service to deliver energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible.
About FISH
Friends in Service to Humanity (FISH) is a Kittitas Valley food bank serving residents of Ellensburg, Kittitas and Cle Elum. For more information, contact Roger McCune, executive director, at 509-925-5990.