Why glean?

Year after year some of the most wholesome food is left unwanted on the ground and plowed into fields at the end of the growing season. Good Shepherd Food Bank is organizing parties to glean the fields of generous farmers who will let us pick any remaining food after their first or second harvest.

The 3-way Benefit to our State and Communities.

• First, it helps to end hunger by providing the freshest food to those in need.
• Second, it tackles current, national issues of obesity by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables as a healthy alternative to fatty snacks.
• Third, it helps encourage the practice of keeping local food local. With rising gas prices it is becoming more expensive and inefficient to transport food across the country and the globe.

     Gleaning Maine fields for the people of Maine just makes good sense,
     and everybody loves a fresh potato!

How can you help?

Calling All Growers!

If you’re a farmer in Maine and wish to give us the opportunity to glean your field after you have done the first, or second, picking, please contact Jason Hall, (207) 782-3554. This is a great opportunity to support a Good Shepherd Food Bank partner agency who feeds those in need, right in your community.
We will supply volunteers to glean, trucks to transport, and a receipt to recognize your generous donation.

Come Join In The Harvest!

We need a large party of volunteers to pick, pack and load vegetables. Gleaning opportunities may pop up anywhere in the state so those willing to travel are strongly encouraged to join us. Expect to spend some time outside lifting and bending over. It’s rewarding and refreshing work and we’ll bring the BBQ and refreshments! To find out about gleaning opportunities contact us and let us know that you want to be added to our Gleaning Party Contact List. We will send you more details and notify you of upcoming gleaning projects in your area.

“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop.

It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God. - Leviticus 19: 9-10