Thrivent members bring donations to Ritzville

RITZVILLE – Two area organizations benefited from generous gifts of groceries by local Thrivent Financial members and their Action Teams last week.

Ritzville residents and sisters Vonnie Messerschmidt and Cora Sawyer each purchased $250 worth of groceries to give to favorite organizations.

Sawyer chose to donate her groceries to the Ritzville Food Pantry.

"They are an awesome organization that feeds the town of Ritzville. And after COVID-19, I knew there were a lot of people hurting. Plus, I like to keep it local," Cora said of her decision to benefit the food pantry.

"This is fantastic. Donations have been down lately, so it's very, very helpful to have a large donation come in," Ritzville Food Pantry Director Carol Ewing said.

"We like it, we love it, we want more of it," Jelina Carlson, a food pantry volunteer, said as the cans and boxes of food rolled through the doorway.

Ewing said that while donations were strong for awhile after COVID-19 hit, they had slowed down lately.

Messerschmidt donated her groceries to the H.E. Gritman Senior Center.

"The seniors are in need, and our community is in need," Messerschmidt said. "I did it to support our community."

As members of Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit Christian organization with over two million members, the sisters were able to choose organizations, using their Action Teams, for Thrivent Financial to donate charitable dollars to. To be eligible for donations, recipients have to be a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

"I think Thrivent Financial gives a lot back to the community," Messerschmidt said. "They are a very giving and loving organization."

"I just think it's fantastic," Sandi Miller, cook at the H.E. Gritman Senior Center, said. "This donation is going to feed my people – and anyone who comes in – for a long time. I've got a freezer full with everything they gave me. I think Thrivent is a wonderful association, and we really appreciate it."