Gleaning in a Modern World
Gleaning is a biblical practice rooted in compassion, justice, and provision for the vulnerable. Farmers were instructed to leave the edges of their fields unharvested and not to pick up crops dropped during the harvest to provide for the poor, widows, orphans, and strangers (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22).
Gleaning, in modern times, can be applied to address food waste and support community food pantries by redistributing surplus or leftover food to those in need. Here’s how The Power of Resilience CIC use the biblical principle of gleaning and make a difference:
Reducing Food Waste
Just as farmers left part of their harvest for the poor. We recover excess food from supermarkets, restaurants, and events. Surplus produce, near-expiry food, or unsold items can be “gleaned” and redirected instead of being discarded.
Currently, we work with The Bread and Butter Thing, Aldi, Marks and Spencer, Ridge Hill Local, Tameside Food Project, OIio and Neighbourly in this task.
24/7 Community Food Pantry
Our food pantry acts as a “field” for the distribution of gleaned food. We make this available to those experiencing food insecurity, free of charge. This is added to our shelves directly onto the street as soon as we receive it. 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year.
This ensures that resources are shared immediately within the community, reflecting the principle of caring for the vulnerable.
Volunteers
In the same way that individuals in biblical times would gather the gleanings, our incredible team of volunteers assist with food collections, sorting, and distribution.
This promotes a sense of shared responsibility and community involvement.
Work with us
The principle of leaving food for others fosters a spirit of generosity. Businesses and individuals can partner with us to donate leftover or surplus food, aligning with our biblical model of sharing resources with those in need.
Driven by compassion and purpose, we strive to make a real difference for those in need.
https://thepowerofresilience.co.uk/the-power-of-resilience-cic-community-pantry-project/
If you’d like our director Julie Mallinson to come and talk to your church or group about the work we do please get in touch via thepowerofresilience@outlook.com or via our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ResiliencywithGod/
The Power of Resilience 