Food bank boosts produce donations by creating “Citrus Hotline”

[image credit: firstfoodbank.org]

Backyard fruit trees are a wonderful source of food bank produce

St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance is asking the public for assistance to glean the plentiful grapefruit and orange trees around the Valley in attempt to reach this harvest before the warmer weather hits in the spring and makes the fruit unusable.

Solution: Residents can call hotline to schedule volunteers to pick your fruit

Thousands have called the St. Mary’s “Citrus Hotline” this winter and the Food Bank has more people on its waiting list than groups who have volunteered to pick them. As a result, hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh citrus that could be distributed by the Food Bank are in danger of not reaching those in need.

Anyone who has a few hours on either a weekend or weekday can help right away with the gleaning process. Church groups, community organizations, business volunteer groups or individuals and families are encouraged to help make sure that nature’s bounty is shared with those in need.

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• firstfoodbank.org | Gleaners Needed! Help St. Mary’s Save this Winter’s Citrus Crop! | St. Mary's Food Bank | The world's first food bank