Food Preservers celebrate thousands of volunteer hours

Hazel Dell — To celebrate another year of volunteering throughout the community, Washington State University’s Master Food Preservers held their awards banquet and ceremony on Jan. 23. Last year, the group volunteered a combined 2,491 hours and served 4,674 people. The volunteers gave how-to lectures at the program offices and out in the community, taught hands-on canning classes, answered questions via the Food Safety Hotline, tested pressure canning gauges and promoted food preservation and food safety at various events. The group also runs a youth outreach program where they show kids how to make freezer jam and loaves of bread.