Volunteers are needed Saturday to pick low hanging fruit to help feed struggling families.

2nd Saturday – Crossroad Grace’s outreach ministry that brings people of all denominations together to serve the community – is trying to assemble 10 teams to harvest ripening citrus from the yards of 15 different homeowners.

Literally tons of unused citrus left on trees in residential yards go to waste in Manteca alone each year. The citrus once it is harvested by volunteers is then delivered through food banks throughout the area that distribute it to needy families and elderly seniors on limited income that can’t afford fresh citrus.

The effort has made a big difference for food banks during the past two years that are finding it tougher and tougher to meet the demand created by regional unemployment pushing 15 percent.

Citrus harvesting volunteers are being asked- if they can - to bring any hand towels or car wash towels that they can donate for the project to help clean the fruit. Also if individuals can supply ladders six-foot and over and pickup truck beds to use for the day it would be appreciated.

For those who are willing to climb trees, it is suggested that they wear Levis, long sleeves or a sweatshirt since citrus trees do have thorns.

A briefing sheet and a release form can be found at www.crossroadsgrace.org under 2nd Saturday that can be taken with you when you arrive for the briefing Saturday by 8:45 a.m. at the church on Moffat Boulevard between Woodward Avenue and Spreckels Avenue.

Teams will depart for work sites at 9 a.m. and will finish at 1 p.m. or shortly thereafter.

The simple philosophy that there are no physical boundaries to a church gave birth to Crossroads Grace Church’s 2nd Saturday community outreach.

Hundreds of church members – along with community volunteers who elect to help  – set aside four hours the second Saturday of each month to do everything from helping the elderly with small home maintenance projects to helping maintain landscaping along the Tidewater Bikeway.