At House of Hope, we pride ourselves on offering nutritious options and fresh produce in all four of our Client Choice food pantries. One of the ways we secure produce is by participating in gleaning during the winter and spring months through a partnership with CROS Ministries. Gleaning is harvesting the produce remaining after a field has been professionally picked. This produce is considered below market grade which means it might be smaller or larger than what supermarkets consider “shelf-worthy,” but it is still just as nutritious! Once harvested, the produce is distributed to our pantries instead of being plowed back into the soil. Without volunteers, we are unable to participate and we need all the help we can get! This is a great event for groups and families, as children 5 and up are welcome to participate. You must pre-register to participate!  

For questions or more information or to be notified when the 2025 season begins, please contact Natasha Kassam, enrichment and engagement coordinator, at Natasha@hohmartin.org or (772) 286-4673 ext. 1013.

 

Gleaning Rules & Helpful Hints

Please read through the following points to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable gleaning experience.

  • Every gleaner must fill out a Gleaning Form at the start of the event for each glean in which they participate.
  • All gleaners still in elementary, middle or high school must be accompanied by a supervising adult.  This includes high school students 18 years of age or older. Gleaners under 18 years of age must have the waiver signed by their parents.
  • Closed toes shoes are MANDATORY!
  • No pets are permitted.
  • When gleaning, remember you are on another person’s property. Treat it better than your own property. (Make sure you are not leaving water bottles, candy wrappers, etc.)
  • We are guests, please don’t abuse the privilege, or we may lose it.
  • In the field, the field supervisor is in charge. Follow his/her instructions and directions completely. They are there to protect your safety, the safety of the produce and to protect the property owner’s interest. The field supervisor can cancel a glean at any time if he/she feels the rules are not being followed.
  • Safety is of utmost importance in gleaning. If any activity is questionable, do not do it.
  • Safety practices include: Do not climb trees/fences. Do not ride on the back of moving vehicles. Stay away from farm machinery, canals and roadways.
  • Bathroom facilities are unavailable in most gleaning fields; it is advisable to use the bathroom prior to coming to the field.
  • It is recommended that all gleaners wear gloves and hats in the field, apply sunscreen, and have insect repellant handy in case insects are an issue.
  • It is often good to dress in layers. In the morning it is likely to be cold and damp; wearing a long sleeved shirt and long pants are recommended. As it gets warmer, you may wish to remove layers or change to shorts and a short sleeved shirt.
  • In cornfields and orchards, long sleeved shirts and pants are needed. Leaves from the corn stalks are sharp and can cut the skin. Mangoes are also a member of the poison ivy family, so long sleeves and pants help protect against contact with the sap.

Ways to Help