Bean Picking Boy Scouts Help Food Bank

Friday, July 20th 2007, 5:00 pm

By: News On 6

The Community Food Bank helps feed thousands of Oklahomans in 24 counties. The food comes from dozens of sources. The News On 6â€™s Rick Wells reports one source gave up some fresh produce with the help of some Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouts Troop 81 is heading out to finish up their bean picking out at the OSU Experimental Station in Bixby. The scouts will get credit for service hours for coming out to pick beans, and the Community Food Bank will get some fresh produce.

"We'll take any kind of vegetables, even if it's in your back yard,â€ Cindy Stevens with the Community Food Bank said. â€œIt could be as little as a handful or a basket full."

In this case they got several cardboard boxes full. OSU grows and tests different varieties of produce at its experimental station, studying which do best in Oklahoma's climate. When the testing is done there's beans, or squash, or something else to be picked.

The scouts arrived about 8 a.m. and picked the patch clean in about an hour and a half. They've volunteered at the Salvation Army, one of the agencies that benefits from Food Bank contributions, so they feel they have an idea of who might get the beans they picked.

"We are always looking for good sources for food at the Food Bank," said Ken Bacon with the Community Food Bank.

The Food Bank will take fresh produce from your home garden if you have extra, beyond what you can use. To donate food or money to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma call them at 918-585-2800, or visit their website, www.cfbeo.org.

Watch the video: Food Banks Gets Help From Oklahoma Boy Scouts