Beto Bustos made a difference Thursday through the annual Community Work
Day by overseeing work at Snooty Fox Farm.
The ninth-grader didn’t have far to look when he asked
grower Jenny Copper if she would pay him for a half day of work. His
family, mom Celia and dad Roberto, have worked for Copper for three years.
Copper receives donations from Diamond Fruit and sorts
the pears to give the good fruit to schools and food banks. That includes
Hood River County and Wasco County facilities.
While she has done the gleaning for years, Beto oversaw
the sorting operation Thursday as his job for the day.
“I think it’s cool, a good way to help people,” he
said.
In exchange for his labor, the farm gave $35 to Hood
River Valley High School. Copper also paid Beto his regular hourly wage
for working.
“He is a good kid and good kids deserve attention,” she
said.
The workers gave away 100 boxes of fruit Thursday
afternoon; including ones to Pine Grove Elementary, Wy’east Middle School,
and the Chinook Food Bank in The Dalles.
