Senior Gleaners of San Diego County
For more information: Monte Turner 503-364-1542
May 11, 2017
For immediate release
NOTE: A short version follows for use in smaller spaces.
Senior Gleaners need food, volunteers
to serve new partner--Heaven's Windows
Non-profit provides food & services to East County residents
The Senior Gleaners of San Diego County need more food donations and volunteers to serve Heaven's Windows, a new partner that now distributes all produce picked and groceries recovered by the gleaning group in the south and central parts of the county.
Heaven's Windows provides food and services to East County San Diego with major programs focusing on children, students, low-income and senior residents. "We need more sources of food from homeowners and other sources to help Heaven's Windows achieve their mission," said Monte Turner, Gleaner board president. "We also need more volunteers to pick fruit, collect food from grocery stores, and drive vans," he said. Most Gleaners volunteer 2-3 hours one day per week, but there are no required commitments.
For information or to download a volunteer application, visit the Senior Gleaner Web site at: www.seniorgleanerssdco.org. Or call 619-633-9180 or e-mail .
"This is a great partnership," said Angela Krestschmar, Heaven's Windows executive director. "Our clients are delighted to get fresh fruit and are amazed that seniors are climbing ladders and loading boxes to provide it," she said. The fruit and grocery products will help Heaven's Windows serve more hungry residents through a soon-to-be opened, expanded food pantry in Spring Valley.
For centuries, gleaners have collected food that would otherwise be wasted to feed the hungry. Today, Senior Gleaners collect produce (primarily citrus) from farms and backyards as well as unsold food products from grocers throughout San Diego County. Four crews cover different geographic regions. Food collected in the northern part of the county is donated to the North County San Diego Food Bank and numerous non-profit organizations in the area.
Last year, Senior Gleaners distributed nearly 390,000 pounds of food. The federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects donors from liability. Donors may claim tax deductions for the value of their contributions.
The Senior Gleaners of San Diego County is a certified non-profit organization affiliated with the San Diego County Office of Aging and Independent Services and the San Diego Food Bank.
Shorter version:
Senior Gleaners need food, volunteers
to serve new East County partner
The Senior Gleaners of San Diego County need more donations of produce and food products as well as more volunteers to supply food to a new partner. Heaven's Windows provides food and services to East County San Diego with major programs focusing on children, students, low-income and senior residents. To schedule a crew to pick your backyard spare fruit anywhere in the county or to volunteer, visit the Gleaner Web site at: www.seniorgleanerssdco.org. Or call 619-633-9180 or e-mail . The non-profit Gleaners group collected nearly 390,000 pounds of food last year. Volunteers must be age 55 or more. The federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects donors from liability. Donors may claim tax deductions for the value of their contributions.
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