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Shelley Osterloh Reporting A group of teens is working hard to provide food for those who are hungry. They are planting, tending and harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables in community gardens. It's a service project that is growing in more ways than one.
After a summer of work, it's time to pick. Josh Bagley, 2007 President, Utah GARDENS PLAY team: "Just watching it grow and being able to harvest it now and starting to donate it, its a lot of fun "
For months this group of teens and others have worked the soil, planted, watered and weeded two fields in South Salt Lake.
Haydee Ruano, Hunter High Junior: "I thought it was the coolest thing to see the corn grow from little to really huge and donate it and see the faces on people; and they are like, ‘oh my gosh, thank you so much.' And that's the whole reason for being in this garden."
About 40 teens from several different high schools have teamed up to produce fresh produce for the needy. Soon the food will be distributed through the Food Bank, Catholic Community Services and the LDS Bishops Storehouse.
Some of these kids were surprised to learn that about 87-thousand Utah children live in poverty, and many often go hungry.
Jenny Harris, Bingham High Junior: "Because you think starving kids in Africa that you hear about, but so close to us, I was really surprised to learn. And they are so happy to get the food, you're like wow, they must really need it."
Josh Bagley: "So far we've only taken them to refugees from Somalia, and they greeted us very warmly and they loved it. And the little children, that's what's really rewarding."
These young people are part of what's called the PLAY team of Utah Gardens Inc. Play stands for Planting, Leaning and Youth. It is organized and staffed by the teens.
Josh Bagley: "That's what draws me to it, it's the best youth in Utah that run it and its great to see these kids work their tails off."
Right now there are two large youth gardens, but they are getting more and more volunteers and next year they plan to add three more -- one in South Jordan, the East Bench, and another in South Salt Lake.
It's a service project that helps teens learn new skills, develop leadership and help those in need.
This Saturday, the Youth Garden group is hosting a harvest open house for other young people who may be interested in joining them. It starts at 10 am at 3158 South 1100 West.
