Left to right: Brandon Huang, Conor Volpe, Jonathan Wong, Ashraf Mathkour and Matt Ward, all juniors at Miramonte High School Photo provided

Are your zucchini and tomato plants producing more than you and your next-door neighbors can eat? Orange and lemon trees laden, but you don't have the time or energy to get out and pick the fruit?
Well, not to worry.
A group of Miramonte High School students has come up with a great idea for your extra fruit and vegetables. The students (juniors Conor Volpe, Brandon Huang, Matt Ward, Jonathan Wong and Ashraf Mathkour) have organized a community service project this summer to gather fruit and vegetables from local residents in the Lamorinda area and donate them to the Contra Costa Food Bank in Concord.
"We will pick the produce at a convenient time, give you as much as you want, then take the rest over to the food bank where people in need can get the fresh fruit and veggies," says Volpe, 16.
Volpe says he got the idea from seeing fruit in his neighborhood just go to waste.
"Where I live there is lots of fruit just falling off the trees," he says. "A friend had so many pears on their tree that they didn't know what to do with them."
Volpe says the food bank is excited about the students' project.
"The lady at the food bank even said she would come and pick up the fruit and vegetables if we couldn't deliver them," says Volpe.
However, one of the students, Matt Ward, 16, says delivering the produce should be no problem.
"I drive a bus - a VW bus - so I can transport all the fruits and vegetables we can get," jokes Ward.
If you have fruit or vegetables that you would like the students to pick and donate to the food bank, please call 925-631-6635 or email extrafruit123@gmail.com. There is no charge and the donation may be used as a tax write-off.