With the help of the Rotary Club, Lake Country Food Bank was able to purchase a new food dehydrator that will increase the shelf life of perishable donations it receives.
Lake Country Food Bank manager Joy Haxton said the machine is not just for them, and they want to invite members and community organizations to use it as an educational tool through workshops.
The team at the food bank picks up donations from local grocery stores, restaurants and even orchards six days a week. But often, Haxton says they receive the food at its ripest.
“What we wanted to do is to see if we could still keep that food so we were able to purchase this incredible dehydrator.”
She says they’ve had a chance to play around with the machine and are slowly mastering it.
In the lower level of Lake Country Food Bank, the volunteer-based team sorts through the perishable food it receives daily. Food that isn’t fit for human consumption either goes to animals or compost.
Haxton explains they have learned the different dietary needs for the animals to ensure it is safe to send to certain farms. For example, chickens can’t ingest nightshades, so no peppers or potatoes. Other items like bags and twist ties are also sorted out.
Due to COVID, the number of volunteers fell from 65 to 25, which impacted the way they pick up donations.
“We had fourteen drivers, but the average age was seventy-four. We can’t send those folks into the grocery stores. It wasn’t safe any longer. We now have a driver, who’s full-time. Stu is our baby at 50,” Haxton said.
A fun fact about Lake Country Food Bank is it doesn’t have a garbage bin, as it recovers 95% of donated items. The remaining 5% that’s thrown out is typically due to contamination, such as salmonella.
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