Senior Gleaners is a volunteer senior organization made up of over 500 members, ranging in age from 50 to 99. We are dedicated to helping alleviate hunger in our region by gleaning produce from harvested fields, salvaging food from the food industry and working to distribute millions of pounds of food to member charitable organizations for distribution to the needy. Each member pledges $5.00 a month to VOLUNTEER their time and talents!

Mission statement:

• To alleviate hunger among the poor and elderly
• To glean surplus foods at low or no cost, from every available source for distribution among the needy members and other charitable organizations, in a fair and equitable manner.
• To educate the disadvantaged and elderly as to their nutritional needs.
• To make the public aware of the problems of the poor and elderly.

History

Senior Gleaners was founded on June 24, 1976. Thirty retired seniors gathered to glean surplus fruits and vegetables from farmers 'fields and orchards for their own use. The surplus were donated to a local soup kitchen. Using a private garage, food storage requirements of the organization were met by utilizing refrigerators. Over the years, as the amount of food substantially increased, we moved several times and continually upgraded our storage facilities with walk-in freezers and coolers.

Or organizational structure began with the founder who appointed several assistants to help distribute the food. As we developed people in the community offered volunteer and organizational assistance. We contacted food retailers and distributors and asked for their expired shelf-life food products and asked the farmers for their leftover produce after harvest. Most began to donate on a regular basis. The food was then sorted and channeled through our network of charitable organizations for distribution to feed the needy.

How to get involved

If you would like to become a member of Senior Gleaners Enrollments are held on a Monthly Basis & are subject to change.

Seniors helping Seniors

is a program designed to assist high school or college students, age 16 or older, in acquiring the needed Community Service Hours to meet their graduation requirements.

This program is available only on Saturdays by appointment only. Students must commit to 4 hours of service.

Please contact Patty Bruns @ (916) 925-3240 x157