Gleaning: An Act of Generosity and Caring

It is an easy task to live for yourself. However, it takes courage, commitment and character to live for the other people. What could be a nobler task then helping a fellow human being? There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities available in the United States. We should all volunteer and try to make difference in other's people lives.

This article explores a way to make a difference in other people's lives through gleaning.

Gleaning is an ancient practice and is used to feed hungry people. The concept of gleaning is pretty simple; collect leftover crops from fields and use that to feed poor and hungry. Gleaning has both historical and religious context. According to the Almanac of Indispensable Information source book, Life's Big Instruction Book, gleaning practice goes back to Old Testament which suggested that farmers allow poor widows and vagabonds to glean the outer edges of their fields.

After the harvest, a large quantity of food becomes unmarketable due to the irregular size or shapes of produce or for other reasons. If that food is not picked up, it can rot in the fields and will be wasted. Volunteers in many states come and pick these types of leftovers and then donate to those who really need it. This act is called gleaning.

One of the largest volunteer organizations that play an integral part in gleaning service is the Society of St. Andrew's Gleaning Network. The history of St. Andrew's Gleaning Network goes back to 1979 when Rev Ken Home and Rev Ray Buchanan founded the organization. Today, thousands of volunteers have joined this noble organization across the United States and millions of pounds of produce are given to the poor at no cost to them.

According to the Society of St. Andrew's Gleaning Network's website, each year about 30,000 people join this volunteer effort and salvage over 15 millions pounds of fresh food and feed the poor people within 48 hours of picking the produce.

If you would like to volunteer for St. Andrew's Gleaning Network, please go to their website and join.

In addition to joining St. Andrew's Gleaning Network, you can also check to see if your local area offers any gleaning opportunities.

Here are some suggested steps and ideas to further this ancient concept:

1- Start your own volunteer gleaning network in your local area.

2- If you live close to farms, contact the local farmers and growers. Let them know that you are starting a volunteer service and need their help and cooperation. Request them to donate their extra produce to your regularly.

3- Contact your friends and families and ask them to donate money and/or volunteer for this noble cause.

4- Contact your local grocery stores in the super market, as well as local Farmer's market and ask them to donate their extra produce.

5- Contact local churches, Women's shelters, homeless shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and let them know that you and your network will be providing them food on a regular basis.

6- Set up a schedule to pick up produce from farmers, farmers market and drop it off to local organizations who are in need.

7- Build a strong network of volunteers.

This is a noble task. We all should be helping people in need.