Georgia – EndHunger

Gleaning in Georgia

This year, through October, our Georgia region has gleaned 1,315,822 pounds of fresh produce in 231 events, with 854 volunteers.

Food donated by 108 farmers has been distributed to hungry people through 223 feeding agencies.

Our regional gleaning office in Tifton was made possible thanks to a grant from the St. Mary’s United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. We look forward to a bountiful gleaning ministry in this agriculturally rich state and hope to help alleviate many of the hunger problems experienced by Georgians.

The Society of St. Andrew operates a volunteer-driven Gleaning Network in Georgia that includes volunteers who save fresh produce every year and use it to feed hungry people all across the state.

Through the Georgia Gleaning Network, we coordinate volunteers in many areas of the state who enter fields after farmers have finished harvesting and simply pick up the tons of good produce left behind. Our volunteers represent groups from various church denominations, synagogues, youth groups, other civic organizations, individuals, and inner city residents.

Volunteer with SoSA
Please contact us to indicate your interest in gleaning. When we have opportunities within 30-45 minutes of your location, we will email you with details and invite you to join us in the fields.

Most gleaning events take place on weekends where gleaners arrive in the fields around 8am, and are on their way home by noon. Society of St. Andrew makes all arrangements with farmers, produce containers and food distribution. All that volunteer gleaners need to do is show up. Volunteer groups are encouraged to take food back to agencies or programs that they support in their local area.

People of all ages can glean. Gleaners should be able to bend over and should be able to bend and lift several pounds of produce.

It is important that the contact person be reachable by phone during day-time hours.

Most of our gleanings are in the morning and last three to four hours. Gleanings are scheduled week days and on Saturdays.

If you have questions about when local crops are available, we would be happy to help.

Aside from our office in Tifton, we have two volunteer gleaning coordinators in Georgia who also serve as Hunger Relief Advocates. HRAs are called to serve within their states as advocates, educators, and enablers of action to relieve hunger in America. Their three-fold goal is:

♦ Bring people into hands-on ministry with the hungry and the poor

♦ Advocate to churches on behalf of the nation’s hungry and the poor

♦ Raise funding resources to sustain the HRA program