Proceeds from plastic bottles or aluminum cans in Truckee will help purchase solar cookers for people in economically disadvantaged countries, thanks to the efforts of Sierra High School seniors.

Sierra High School requires all seniors to participate in a service learning project.

This year’s service learning project is a community effort that benefits Solar Cookers International. Seniors are asking local businesses, agencies and schools to participate in the program by placing recycling containers at their site. Proceeds derived from the recycling will go to SCI, which will in turn purchase solar ovens for needy countries such as Haiti, Pakistan, India, Africa.

Solar cookers help people in disadvantage countries. Photo/Provided

The SCI website explains that refugees and other displaced people frequently lack access to sufficient cooking fuels and safe drinking water. When infrastructures are in ruins and no energy or gas is available, solar cooking utilizes the sun to cook hot food. Additionally, when fuel is scarce, cooking with the sun offers a clean, workable solution. Importantly, solar cookers fight cholera by heating water to pasteurization temperatures. And finally, using a solar cooker requires only the sun, and does not necessitate searching for other forms of fuel.

Sierra High School seniors are actively searching for businesses and public entities that have room for a 32-inch by 18-inch recycling container. Those interested in participating should call Sierra High School at (530) 582.2640.