Food drive collects 500 pounds at Black Butte

Members of the Black Butte Ranch Fire Department spent part of their day on Sunday, December 15, going door to door in Black Butte Ranch. They received 500 pounds of food and $135 worth of donations which they gave to the Sisters Kiwanis.

The Fire Department and its Volunteer Association worked together during the drive. Ryan Murphy, a student volunteer, coordinated the effort.

Although this is the first time the department has organized a food drive, said Clint Burleigh, president of the Volunteer Association, "we would like to do this annually -- maybe the weekend after Thanksgiving next year."

Burleigh guessed that there are about 500 full-time residents living in Black Butte Ranch in the winter.

"We have a lot of elderly people who were going to donate anyway, and it saved them a trip into Sisters," Burleigh said.

The Volunteer Association donated $50. The General Store donated a bag of groceries. And residents were generous.

"It was so fun!" said Burleigh. "We would try to thank people, and they would thank us!"

The BBR Volunteer Association will sponsor a Black Butte Ranch Christmas tree recycling drive on January 4. To arrange a pick up call 595-2288.