Harvesting time is here and the Community Apple Sauce Project offers an opportunity to use what is around us for those who really need it.
The project needs volunteers to help with picking apples blemished or bruised; processing fruit into apple sauce; packaging it for delivery. Land owners with apple trees can also help by either gathering apples or allowing volunteers to do so.
Last year’s project was a great success resulting in a record 818 cups of apple sauce or 1636 servings of fruit distributed by Meals on Wheels and SIRCH.
The record collection last year which included apples picked or collected from private and public land isn’t expected to be duplicated after the less than ideal conditions this season.
However Kate Hall public health food worker with Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit said this doesn’t diminish this year’s endeavour.
“If we can take that fruit and turn it into something that is accessible to people who can benefit from it then that’s great” she said.
The project is a partnership between the Haliburton County Foodnet SIRCH Community Services Haliburton Highlands Health Services Community Support Services Division the municipality of Dysart et al and the HKPR Health Unit. Donations of the containers for the sauce is appreciated.
Drop off apples to SIRCH Central in Haliburton at 2 Victoria St. on Sept. 14 and 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. and Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. or daily at the HKPR Health Unit at 191 Highland St. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you’re interested in picking apples or allowing volunteers to come and pick apples on your property contact Meals on Wheels co-ordinator Ida Shultz at 705- 457-2941 ext. 2926 or ishultz@hhhs.ca.
Volunteers interested in being part of the processing of the apples into packaged cups of sauce from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at SIRCH Central on Monday Sept. 18 should contact SIRCH food initiatives co-ordinator Diane McKnight at 705-457- 1742 ext. 27 at diane_mcknight@sirch. on.ca.
There are two shifts available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. McKnight said anyone under 16 needs a parent or guardian.
Hall said the effort is great for everyone involved whether it’s the land owners seeing their apples go to a good cause the volunteers gaining a sense of satisfaction or the recipients of the apple sauce.
“We’re all about providing healthy nutritious food. If it’s local all the best. It’s a real feel good project” she said.
