LIVERMORE — Students from Spruce Mountain High School in Jay picked hundreds of pounds of apples at Shackley Hill Orchard on Thursday for distribution to needy families.

The apples will be split between Tri-Town Ministerial Food Bank and the Fayette Baptist Church.

Barbara Jewett, instructor for the Jobs for Maine’s Graduates program at the high school, said about 18 students took part in the community service project, 10 of them juniors from her class. The others were from the Life Skills program and accompanied by instructor Diane Maurais.

Jean and Sue Castonguay have opened their orchard to the students for three years and their daughter-in-law, Katie Castonguay, was at the orchard to welcome the group.

“The Castonguays have been wonderful,” Jewett said. “This is prime picking time.” 

After Jewett gave instruction on how to carefully twist and roll each apple to remove it from a branch, most of the students collected plastic bags and headed toward the trees laden with bright red fruit. A few students weighed the bags of apples at Jewett‘s van.

“I love it when I see those full bags,” Jewett said. Both food banks were open in the afternoon for people to get the freshly picked apples.

“I’m really excited that we could time it that way this year,” Jewett said. “This has become a tradition and an expectation. These kids got lucky and got to come.”

Jewett said Jobs for Maine’s Future Graduates will sponsor a blood drive from 8:30 a.m to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the high school. The morning will be devoted primarily to students who wish to donate, and the afternoon for appointments for community members.

Jobs for Maine’s Graduates will also hold its initiation and induction program Nov. 10.

Jobs for Maine’s Graduates is a statewide nonprofit that works in public schools to help students reach their fullest potential. It serves more than 5,000 students from grades six to 12 in 79 programs throughout Maine.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net