Canning for a cause

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Several food organizations and agencies worked together on Make a Difference Day last month to can for a cause.

Urban Greens, Food Works Alliance, and the Hunger Network partnered together along with other organizations to can over 400 jars of applesauce. About 20 volunteers worked two different shifts to home make the applesauce. Jessica Stonecypher, the Urban Agriculture Specialist at the Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District, says the volunteers and a group of kids worked to can the sauce and add labels to it.

“Yeary Orchards was very generous in giving us some apples to use for this project. And all that went into it was apples and cinnamon. There’s no sugar added and it tastes really good.

Together the groups hope to reduce the amount of food being wasted by turning it into goods for people who may not have access to food. Keely Warden says there’s plenty of opportunity in the community to help prevent waste.

“In this community that we live where there’s all of this fresh produce, how can we get it from the trees, to the jars, to the people? And thankfully, the Food Alliance has the equipment that’s able to do it.”

The applesauce comes in two different sizes: pint and quart. The Hunger Network will distribute the cans to those in need.