Our Mission

The Gleaning Network links farmers who have crops that are edible but not marketable with those who distribute food to the needy through the work of volunteer gleaners. Their staff organizes teams of people to go to local farms to harvest fresh nutritious fruits and vegetables to be given to low income individuals, families, as well as agencies or communities that serve the hungry.

When a farmer in their network calls with available produce to glean, the staff of The Gleaning Network contacts one or more of their gleaning groups and they go to the fields for a gleaning event. These volunteers come from all walks of life and all are welcome to participate. They include church groups, service clubs, schools, college organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs, senior citizens, inner city public housing community residents, and interested individuals. In the fields, gleaners harvest the produce that would otherwise be plowed under or left to rot. They fill the bags and other containers that the Gleaning Network provides. The gleaned produce is transported to agencies or neighborhoods to feed the hungry in low-income households.