Harvest needs volunteers to pick corn

Harvest Regional Food Bank is looking for volunteers to pick corn from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at a field near Foreman, Arkansas. Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Highway 41 rest area in Foreman, Ark.

"We have been offered a crop of sweet corn on about two acres and we're going to be picking that crop on two mornings. That way it's not an all-day process and it's not quite as hot on the volunteers and staff," said Camille Wrinkle, Harvest executive director.

Quite a few volunteers are needed.

"The more the better but we're hoping to have at least 30 to 40 people on each of those mornings. The more we have, the quicker it will go and the more corn we'll be able to pick. That means more fresh produce will go out to families who need it and otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it," Wrinkle said.

The donation of fresh produce will come in handy for the organization.

"The amount of corn that's being donated to us is going to equal approximately 30,000 pounds which is almost and 18-wheeler full of fresh produce that can then be given to food insecure families, children and seniors all across our 10-county area," she said.

The same offer was made to Harvest last year but before the corn could be picked, disaster struck.

"Last year the corn that was planted was destroyed by wild hogs and the farmer graciously agreed to plant it again for us this year and hopefully we will be able to get out there. We're picking it as soon as it's ripe. Hopefully it won't have time to sit out long enough for that to happen again," she said.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call Harvest at 870-774-1398 or meet at the rest area on the scheduled days.

"We need the community's help to make sure this generous donation gets to hungry families, seniors and children," Wrinkle
said.

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