What is “Glean, Grow, Give”
“Glean, Grow, Give” is a Project of the Merced County Food Bank
Gleaning is the process of harvesting crops that would otherwise be left in the fields, on the trees, or plowed under because producers do not have access to the labor, time or transportation needed to donate to local food banks and pantries.
Merced County Food Bank (MCFB) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Merced County Department of Public Health that creates the “Glean, Grow, Give” project; a project that will work to address food insecurity in the County.
The “Glean, Grow, Give0148 project will coordinate gleaning opportunities throughout Merced County, connecting volunteers with residents, gardeners, farms, orchards, farmers’ markets, and other food producers and vendors to collect food that would otherwise go to waste. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a vital part of any healthy diet and too often they are left out when money is tight.
We are looking for hard-working volunteers to take part in one-time or ongoing gleaning efforts at local gardens, residences and area farms. Volunteers harvest produce and/or help transport food the food bank.
Are you passionate about ending hunger and eliminating food waste? You might be just the person the “Glean, Grow, Give” Project is looking for to connect excess produce with the people who need it.
How it Works
Vision and Values
Vision
Through the act of harvesting and sharing food, we connect and nourish our community to build stronger relationships and a deeper appreciation for our food and our neighbors who need it.
Values
Healthy Food For All. We live in an area of agricultural abundance, yet there are many people in Merced and Mariposa Counties that go hungry. We believe in simple solutions such as harvesting extra produce and getting it to our neighbors in need.
Reduce Waste. “Glean, Grow, Give” promotes the highest use of wholesome unmarketable food and reduces hunger and waste by using technology, social media and strategic investment to help bridge the hurdles that result in food waste.
Gleaning Grows Communities. We create opportunities for a diverse array of people to collaborate and celebrate the act of harvesting and sharing nutritious food. By working together and sharing ideas we discover our broader sense of connection and common purpose.
Knowledge Empowers. We believe that through collaborations and sharing ideas we can inspire a healthier food culture.
Ways to get Involved
The easiest way to get involved! Register as a volunteer and then sign up for an event on our harvest page. Gleans are seasonal, available all over Merced county, and last about 2 hours. Gleaners are the hands and heart of our efforts to rescue nature’s bounty for the benefit of our community!
Harvest Leader
As a Harvest Leader, you will be trained and equipped to lead small groups of volunteers to harvest excess produce from homes in your area. Harvest Leaders drop off produce to a nearby food pantry, keeping the fruit as local as possible. Harvest Leaders may also co-lead farm gleans. It’s up to each Harvest Leader to determine how frequently you would like to lead gleans. Harvest Leader Training occurs quarterly. “Glean, Grow, Give” T-shirt, equipment, harvest manual and additional supplies will be provided for each Harvest Leader. To learn more, contact our “Glean, Grow, Give” Coordinator, Earla at [email protected]
Farmers’ Market Collection Leader
Want to get to know your local farmers AND help feed the hungry? Every week “Glean, Grow, Give” collects leftover produce from the Farmers’ Markets. Our Collection Leaders engage with farmers, orchestrate volunteers and keep track of poundage and donation receipts. To learn more, contact our “Glean, Grow, Give” Coordinator, Earla at [email protected]
Host a Fruit Drive
Host a Fruit Drive at your school, business or neighborhood! The Fruit Drive model is similar to a typical food drive, but the fruit being collected is gathered from trees, rather than purchased. “Glean, Grow, Give” provides you with a Fruit Drive Kit that includes the resources you’ll need to successfully publicize and collect hundreds of pounds of produce within your community. To learn more, contact our “Glean, Grow, Give” Coordinator, Earla at [email protected]
Group Volunteering
Does your community group or volunteer organization want to participate in something with an impact? Gleaning options that can accommodate large groups are limited, seasonal and not guaranteed. Email our “Glean, Grow, Give” Coordinator, Earla at [email protected] to learn more and include the size of your group, potential dates and times you are available, and any other considerations.
FAQs
Answers to common questions about the Glean, Grow Give project.
Can I bring my kids?
All volunteers under 18 must be actively supervised by an adult who is on the roster.
We believe that picking with “Glean, Grow, Give” is a valuable educational experience and a fabulous opportunity for young folks to give back to the community. When we announce new harvests, we will call special attention to those that are suitable for kids. Some of the farmers allow children on their property to help, others do not. If it’s a kid-friendly harvest, we will indicate that on the harvest calendar.
If your child is high school age or older, please register and sign them up as an adult. As the parent, you will check off the waiver form on their behalf when they sign up. Nobody under the age of 16 may climb a ladder, and climbing trees is never allowed. If the lowest fruit is not reachable from the ground, there aren’t many opportunities for kids to help. We always provide as much information as possible about the height of the tree and the lowest fruit, so that you can make the decision about whether or not to bring your kids.
What should I bring?
Bring a re-usable bag in case the farmer or grower allows volunteers to take a portion of the produce home with you.
Bring water to drink, and please take care of any bathroom needs before arriving at the harvest site. We will most likely not have access to a restroom.
A ladder will be helpful at many harvests. We always provide as much information as possible about the height of the tree and the lowest fruit, so that you can make the decision whether or not you’d like to sign up. We will provide orchard ladders when it is useful, and ask only volunteers who are capable to use them. No one under 16 is permitted to climb a ladder.
You may want to bring gloves for handling wooden ladders, or latex gloves for picking fruit. We will provide gloves if you need them.
What should I wear?
- Sunblock
- Long-sleeved T-shirt
- Long pants
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes
- A hat (trees are often dusty)
Has the fruit been sprayed with chemicals?
Sometimes. Our harvests take place at a wide variety of properties, from 10-acre orchards to urban backyards. We always ask the property owner whether or not their fruit has been sprayed with non-organic chemicals in the last three years, and we will report that information to you when we schedule the harvest.
I completed the Volunteer Registration Form. Am I signed up for the harvest?I completed the Volunteer Registration Form. Am I signed up for the harvest?
Not yet. You have completed the first step of giving us your contact information. Now you need to visit our harvest page. Here you will find all of the open harvests that are currently scheduled. Sign up for the harvest that you would like to attend. If there are no harvests listed, then we do not have any scheduled, or the scheduled harvests are already full. Check back frequently for new postings. We will also make alerts through CropMobster.
I signed up for a harvest. When will I get the address?
After you sign up for a harvest on the harvests page, your name is added to the harvest roster. The page that appears right after you sign up shows the address for the harvest. Write it down before you go to any other page.
You will also be sent an email with a link to the harvest details.
Make sure that we have your contact information so we can put you on the harvest roster. If you have not previously registered as a volunteer, fill out the Volunteer Sign Up Form. You have to complete this form only once.
I signed up for a harvest, and now I can’t go. What should I do?
The email that you receive after signing up for the harvest has a link in it to use if you need to cancel, or, you can just call us and let us know. Cancelling gives someone else a chance to attend the harvest.
Do I have to stay at the harvest for the entire time?
Since most harvests are scheduled for only two hours, we ask that you sign up only if you can arrive on time and stay for the whole harvest.
Why are the harvests filling so quickly?
Hundreds of registered volunteers are being notified of a harvest. We believe that it is most fair to notify all volunteers at the same time through email when a large harvest is posted. Trying to determine subgroups that should be notified first would create too many complications.
Why are there not more harvests?
“Glean, Grow, Give” relies on donations from crop owners. While we do want crop owners to be aware of our service, we do not contact specific growers to ask them to donate. After a crop is donated, our leadership team factors MMCFB’s ability to staff harvests, parking and the requests of the land owner to determine how many harvests will be hosted.
Who runs “Glean, Grow, Give”?
“Glean, Grow, Give” is a program of the Merced County Food Bank; that unites farmers, community volunteers, backyard gardeners, health advocates and food providers to harvest and donate excess produce into our local food system.
