Community Service
GLEANING TO FEED THE LOCAL HUNGRY
The Minisink Critters participated in two separate gleaning events with the county’s Food Security Coordinator, on October 20th and November 11th, 2007. On October 20th, the nine member club (ages 5 – 9) gathered at Dolan’s Orchard. They picked for approximately three hours and gathered a grand total of 1,955 pounds of apples. While picking apples, the club members learned how to use the picking baskets, and maintained their enthusiasm and energy levels enough to pose for a “William Tell” portrait. It was an amazing day, and so much fun!
In addition, while transporting the apples from the orchard fields to the bins near the warehouse, the leader and a few members invited a family of four to join them in the gleaning efforts. Within several minutes, the family was walking to the gleaning section of the orchard and pitching in with the apple picking. The total 1,955 pounds of apples were donated to Project Discovery and The Food Bank of Hudson Valley. Project Discovery is affiliated with Easter Seals and provides food to needy families once a month through their outreach program. The Food Bank of the Hudson Valley servers five counties’ food pantries and soup kitchens, and is affiliated with New England Food Bank in Albany.
In addition to this feat, the Minisink Critters signed up for a second gleaning effort at Sleepy Hills Orchard on November 11th. This time the club picked 1,875 pounds of apples within two hours. Total apples picked combined from both gleaning efforts was 3,830 pounds! An average of ¾ pounds equals one serving, therefore Minisink Critters’ gleaning efforts were able to provide 5,106 servings for the various local food pantries, soup kitchens, and outreach programs with the local area. All volunteers counted, what would have taken one person a full week to accomplish, was done in a few hours by our terrific and enthusiastic 4H-ers. We can’t wait to do it again next fall!
