The Vermont Foodbank’s gleaning program has attracted a lot of attention this summer, and for good reason. Gleaning is an ancient tradition that pre-dates biblical times and yet is just as relevant today. You can even say the most of what food banks do is modern-day gleaning. We glean from food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants and caterers, but still from farm fields.
Focusing on just 3 of Vermont’s 14 counties, the Vermont Foodbank will glean well over 200,000 lbs. of fresh produce from our farms and orchards and deliver the food directly to some of our 280 statewide partners who directly feed Vermont’s hungry.
Volunteers love to glean, and it does feel good to cut that fresh spinach, or dig those potatoes out of the ground with your bare hands, knowing that it will soon be enjoyed by a neighbor. With a increasing focus on bringing fresh, local food into the charitable food system, gleaning just makes good sense.
A local webcaster has published a short video of the Vermont Foodbank’s gleaning efforts. Give it a look. http://vermonttv.net/
The Vermont Foodbank is the largest hunger-relief charity in Vermont and for the last 23 years has been serving food insecure Vermonters through a network of food shelves, meal sites, shelters, senior centers and after-school programs. These are our experiences.
Friday, September 18, 2009
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