Upwards of 200 — and often closer to 300 — seasonal fruit pickers have been enjoying a free dinner on weeknights, thanks to a small group that has been cooking up a storm.
About a half-dozen got together on the project, helping the pickers get a better start to their stay in the Creston Valley with a dinner in the Holy Cross Catholic Church parking lot.
“A lot of them start out and they don’t have a job and they don’t have means,” said Linda Fox.
The food has came close to running out a couple of times, but donations of both food — soups, sandwiches, salads, desserts — and money from individuals and businesses made seconds possible for a few people last night.
They’re still looking for more, though.
“If everyone in the whole Creston Valley gave us one item, that would be at least 15,000 items,” said Carol Hack.
And they’re looking for people to help out, not just in donations and cooking, but in serving the meal, with setup each day at 3:30 p.m. and serving at 4.
If volunteer help continues, they will run right through the cherry harvest — and the sincere thank yous and warm smiles from the pickers show that the servers’ plan is working.
“One of the things we’re trying to do is bridge the gap between the pickers and Crestonites,” said Fox.
To learn more or to arrange for a donation, contact Linda Fox at 250-428-7112.
