West Linn Girl Scout Troop 42682 packed 9,477 pounds of onions at the Oregon Food Bank before the holidays. Seven Girl Scouts along with friends, family and leaders brought the total of volunteers to 21.

The group’s organizer, Becky Burkeen, said they packed plastic potato sacks with five-pound batches of red onions donated by a local farmer.

“They quickly discovered that about eight onions equaled the five pounds,” she said, noting that they worked for an hour and 20 minutes. “Once the giant bins were filled, the girls got to ring a bell and everyone hooted and hollered with excitement.”

In addition, they received a tour of the facility.

“The girls were surprised to hear that the entire warehouse of food could be easily emptied by all of the hungry people in Oregon in just two weeks,” Burkeen said. “They were also surprised to hear that the majority of people who go to local food pantries for emergency food supplies are families with one working parent.”

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