From Operation Food Search: Operation Food Search’s Gleaning Program has quickly become one of the most popular volunteer opportunities. We visit community and family farms in the bi-state area, where we can harvest and rescue produce that would otherwise go wasted.  This program is not only beneficial in providing healthy, fresh produce to people in need, but also in strengthening community connections. Volunteers visit farms they may not have known about, speak with the farmers and OFS staff members as they work together (or work alongside the farmers and OFS staff members), and learn about the produce they are harvesting. After a morning of rescuing produce, all harvested food gets distributed to our community partners.

My Experience Volunteering for Gleaning

Written by Audrey Napier, Gleaning Volunteer

I had the opportunity to participate in two gleaning events with Operation Food Search this past summer, and I am so glad I did! My first gleaning trip was to Loving Roots Farm in Florissant. With just two of us needing to harvest a few beds of lettuce, it was a peaceful and relaxing morning. Later in the summer, I got to pick kale with a larger volunteer group at Three Rivers Community Farm in Elsah, IL. Other gleaners harvested peas, cabbage, and scallions.

Why Should You Volunteer for Gleaning

Here are my top 3 reasons to volunteer your time for this cause (and why, in the future, I plan to do it every year on my teacher summer off!):

1. Connection to the community: Not only did it feel great knowing that my work would positively impact individuals and families in the Greater Saint Louis area, but I also loved connecting with the other volunteers. I was a first-timer, picking vegetables alongside experienced gardeners as well as a few other novices. Initially, I was nervous that I didn’t know enough about harvesting produce to be helpful. Luckily that feeling melted away as the warm attitudes of farmers, OFS employees, and the other volunteers assured me there was no expectation of prior experience. It truly felt that every set of hands was welcome and valued.
2. Connection to the Earth: In this fast-paced, digital world, I find I spend more time indoors staring at a screen than I would like to admit.  I often feel pressure that every moment must be spent multitasking or checking things off the to-do list. Participating in gleaning felt like a very purposeful way to get myself in the sunshine and connected to dirt and nature, and the outdoors. It also was very rewarding to know that our work contributed to rescuing food that would otherwise spoil.
3. Opportunity to learn: I was blown away by what I learned from just a few hours out in the field. I am a teacher for most of the year, and two of the best ways to learn are listening to others and from firsthand experience (this is why kids love field trips!) In speaking with other volunteers and seeing the local farms in my community with my own eyes, my awareness of the world around me increased significantly. I also enjoyed learning about the various crops we harvested; it made me curious about plants that thrive in our Missouri climate and how our local farm systems function. If you also consider yourself a lifelong learner, gleaning is for you.

I loved talking to the other volunteers, who came from a wide age range and differing levels of crop-picking experience. Each of these very different gleaning opportunities brought me a lot of joy, and I hope my time was worthwhile to someone out there who had a food need.