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GLEANING

Gleaning is rescuing fresh food from farms, orchards and community gardens that would otherwise be wasted. Produce is harvested in the fields by volunteers and staff or picked up after the harvest and is quickly distributed to food-insecure individuals and families in the region.

Benefits of Gleaning

  • Increases access to healthy, fresh, local food for food-insecure individuals and families.
  • Reduces food waste in the region.
  • Strengthens connections between local growers and their community and increases knowledge of farming, gardening, and best practices.
  • Creates tax benefits for food donors and supports local growers with a valuable service.

Annual Impact of OFS Gleaning Program

24,000 lbs. produce rescued

20,000 meals provided

12 local growers supported

How to Support the Gleaning Program

Food Donors


If you are a farm, orchard or community garden in the region that has excess produce that you would like to donate or are interested in learning more about this program contact us, at gleaning@operationfoodsearch.org or 314-944-6153.

Volunteers


If you are passionate about our mission, supporting our local food system and improving the environment, sign up as a gleaning volunteer! You can follow our program to learn of upcoming events at Volunteer.OperationFoodSearch.org.

For any questions or to learn more about the program, contact us at gleaning@operationfoodsearch.org or 314-944-6153.

Fresh Food Connect

Fresh Food Connect is an app that enables home and community gardeners to donate a portion of their fresh grown produce to support local hunger relief efforts. Operation Food Search is part of a network of 60 nonprofit food access and hunger relief organizations across the country that use the app to create a healthier, more equitable and resilient food system by establishing a market for homegrown food in the fight against hunger.

How It Works

GARDENERS

  • Download the app and register as a gardener.
  • Once you have produce harvested you would like to donate, follow the prompts in the app to schedule your donation at Operation Food Search or one of our partner agencies in your area based on your zip code.

COURIERS

  • Contact us if you are interested in volunteering as a courier for produce donations and to arrange your pickup route.
  • Download the app and register as a courier.
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