The Chicken Champions are visiting farms and households with poultry on July 9 to pick up eggs for donation to food banks in Jefferson County.

The community-service project led by Peninsula Poultry 4-H Club (a.k.a. Chicken Champions) invites anyone with egg-laying poultry to share their bounty and help the hungry. Eggs are to be brought to the food banks on Wednesday, July 12.

They approached me with the idea, and I told them that eggs were like liquid gold at the food bank, said Shirley Moss, director of the Port Townsend Food Bank. An egg can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner; it keeps well its just an amazing food source, she said.

4-H club members came up with the idea of collecting the eggs as a way to give back to the community.

One of the elements of 4-H that we try to cultivate is to grow the kids as generous people to help them experience what it means to be generous in the community, said Tanya Barnett, 4-H youth coordinator and Chicken Champion parent.

The project is called the Great Egg Liberation, and, in the spirit of Independence Day, club members see the project as a liberation of valuable excess food to benefit those who most need it, said Barnett.

The fact that the 4-Hers are doing this for us is really remarkable, said Moss.

Kids in the group shared their thoughts about the project with club leaders:

Its a chance for everyone to get eggs, which are healthy, have lots of protein and taste great, said one young participant.

I think its a good idea to donate our eggs. It feels good, said another.

The community service project follows an education component that included the study of embryology, safe egg handling and other topics. After the project, the kids are asked to think about how the project will translate to the rest of their lives.

All our leaders are trained to ... encourage the youth to step back and reflect, said Barnett.

Those who would like to donate eggs and live within 30 miles of Port Hadlock may contact Barnett at 206-852-0562 or tanyambarnett@gmail.com.

When leaving a message, include details such as expected quantity of eggs to be donated, pickup location and a preferred time on July 9.

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4-Hers 'liberate' excess eggs for those in need - Port Townsend Leader