History: The Society of St. Andrew was formed in 1979 as an intentional community of two families called to life and ministry together. It has grown into an ecumenical, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to leading others into lives of faithful community and service.
Purpose: The mission of the Society of St. Andrew is to introduce people to God's grace through meeting their hungers:
· Food for the body
· God's word for the spirit
· Community of love for the heart
· Opportunity for those who desire action
Description: Since 1983, the Society of St. Andrew has salvaged fresh, nutritious produce from American farms - produce that otherwise would be left to rot - and delivered it to agencies across the nation that serve the poor. God has called us to do this work. In Deuteronomy 15, it says, Since there will never cease to be some in need on the Earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'
Gleaning America's Fields ~ Feeding America's Hungry. That is what the Society of St. Andrew does. We do it simply, and we do it more effectively and far more efficiently than any other hunger relief organization.
Potato & Produce Project
o We salvage tractor-trailer loads of potatoes and other produce that are rejected by commercial markets or potato chip factories due to slight imperfections in size, shape, sugar content, or surface blemishes.
o Usually, these rejected loads end up at local landfills. Through the Potato and Produce Project, the Society of St. Andrew is able to redirect these 43,000-pound loads of fresh, nutritious produce to food banks, soup kitchens, food pantries, low income housing areas, local churches, and other hunger agencies for distribution to the poor.
o In 2012, we salvaged and distributed to America's hungry 9.8 million pounds of produce into 33 states through our Potato & Produce Project.
o Since the Society of St. Andrew was established in 1983, we have salvaged and distributed across America to organizations serving the needy more than 682 million pounds of produce through gleaning and the Potato & Produce Project.
o Because this produce is donated to us, the Society of St. Andrew pays only for the transportation and packaging of the food—an amazingly low 6 cents per pound! That means we can provide food to the nation’s hungry for about 2.4 cents per serving!
Gleaning Network
o One major area of food waste in America is in farmers' fields, where crops that don't meet top-grade quality are left to rot or be plowed under.
o Gleaning is the traditional biblical practice of gathering crops that would otherwise be left in the fields to rot, or be plowed under after harvest. The Gleaning Network coordinates volunteers, growers, and distribution agencies to salvage this food for the needy.
o Tens of thousands of volunteers from churches, synagogues, scout troops, senior citizen groups, and other organizations participate each year in Society of St. Andrew gleaning activities. Each year, tens of millions of pounds of produce are salvaged and given to the poor at no cost to them or to the food pantry or kitchen that feeds them.
o Gleaners are people of all ages and income levels who want to give of themselves. Usually within 48 hours of picking the produce, hungry Americans receive the gleaned food. Each year, 35,000-40,000 people glean with us - to pick up over 20 million pounds of fresh, nutritious food for their hungry neighbors.
o The Gleaning Network is an extremely successful and cost effective program because it is volunteer-driven and biblically-based.
o The biblical mandate comes from the Hebrew scriptures in Deuteronomy 24:19: When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings. (NRSV)
o Farmers donate food, volunteers work, donors provide funds for transportation, and feeding agencies distribute the food.
o By relying on these people, and coordinating their efforts, we are able to keep our costs to a little over 2 cents per serving of gleaned food.
How do we contribute?
o Gleaning
o Potato or Produce Drop
What has been done recently?
o Gleaned okra, corn, green beans from farm in East Knoxville
o Bagged sweet potatoes at Concord United Methodist and brought 50 bags back for FISH
0 Gleaned apples in orchard in Roane County
o Gleaned tomatoes, peppers, other produce at UT Organic Farm
o Bagged green beans at a produce drop
o Bagged potatoes at a potato drop
o Bagged sweet potatoes at a potato drop
o Received green beans, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and peppers for FISH ministry
o Received 175 10-lb bags of potatoes for our Food Giveaway in April 2014
What is coming up? How can I help?
o Neither the gleaning or potato/produce drops are set up on a schedule. These happen with little notice. Sometimes, there are a few days notice, and there are email distributions to notify potential gleaners. Not everyone can go each time. Go when you are available.
o If you want to be notified of an upcoming potato/produce drop or gleaning opportunity, please give your name to Jim Stinnett at jimstinnett@tds.net.
See photos
Purpose: The mission of the Society of St. Andrew is to introduce people to God's grace through meeting their hungers:
· Food for the body
· God's word for the spirit
· Community of love for the heart
· Opportunity for those who desire action
Description: Since 1983, the Society of St. Andrew has salvaged fresh, nutritious produce from American farms - produce that otherwise would be left to rot - and delivered it to agencies across the nation that serve the poor. God has called us to do this work. In Deuteronomy 15, it says, Since there will never cease to be some in need on the Earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'
Gleaning America's Fields ~ Feeding America's Hungry. That is what the Society of St. Andrew does. We do it simply, and we do it more effectively and far more efficiently than any other hunger relief organization.
Potato & Produce Project
o We salvage tractor-trailer loads of potatoes and other produce that are rejected by commercial markets or potato chip factories due to slight imperfections in size, shape, sugar content, or surface blemishes.
o Usually, these rejected loads end up at local landfills. Through the Potato and Produce Project, the Society of St. Andrew is able to redirect these 43,000-pound loads of fresh, nutritious produce to food banks, soup kitchens, food pantries, low income housing areas, local churches, and other hunger agencies for distribution to the poor.
o In 2012, we salvaged and distributed to America's hungry 9.8 million pounds of produce into 33 states through our Potato & Produce Project.
o Since the Society of St. Andrew was established in 1983, we have salvaged and distributed across America to organizations serving the needy more than 682 million pounds of produce through gleaning and the Potato & Produce Project.
o Because this produce is donated to us, the Society of St. Andrew pays only for the transportation and packaging of the food—an amazingly low 6 cents per pound! That means we can provide food to the nation’s hungry for about 2.4 cents per serving!
Gleaning Network
o One major area of food waste in America is in farmers' fields, where crops that don't meet top-grade quality are left to rot or be plowed under.
o Gleaning is the traditional biblical practice of gathering crops that would otherwise be left in the fields to rot, or be plowed under after harvest. The Gleaning Network coordinates volunteers, growers, and distribution agencies to salvage this food for the needy.
o Tens of thousands of volunteers from churches, synagogues, scout troops, senior citizen groups, and other organizations participate each year in Society of St. Andrew gleaning activities. Each year, tens of millions of pounds of produce are salvaged and given to the poor at no cost to them or to the food pantry or kitchen that feeds them.
o Gleaners are people of all ages and income levels who want to give of themselves. Usually within 48 hours of picking the produce, hungry Americans receive the gleaned food. Each year, 35,000-40,000 people glean with us - to pick up over 20 million pounds of fresh, nutritious food for their hungry neighbors.
o The Gleaning Network is an extremely successful and cost effective program because it is volunteer-driven and biblically-based.
o The biblical mandate comes from the Hebrew scriptures in Deuteronomy 24:19: When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings. (NRSV)
o Farmers donate food, volunteers work, donors provide funds for transportation, and feeding agencies distribute the food.
o By relying on these people, and coordinating their efforts, we are able to keep our costs to a little over 2 cents per serving of gleaned food.
How do we contribute?
o Gleaning
o Potato or Produce Drop
What has been done recently?
o Gleaned okra, corn, green beans from farm in East Knoxville
o Bagged sweet potatoes at Concord United Methodist and brought 50 bags back for FISH
0 Gleaned apples in orchard in Roane County
o Gleaned tomatoes, peppers, other produce at UT Organic Farm
o Bagged green beans at a produce drop
o Bagged potatoes at a potato drop
o Bagged sweet potatoes at a potato drop
o Received green beans, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and peppers for FISH ministry
o Received 175 10-lb bags of potatoes for our Food Giveaway in April 2014
What is coming up? How can I help?
o Neither the gleaning or potato/produce drops are set up on a schedule. These happen with little notice. Sometimes, there are a few days notice, and there are email distributions to notify potential gleaners. Not everyone can go each time. Go when you are available.
o If you want to be notified of an upcoming potato/produce drop or gleaning opportunity, please give your name to Jim Stinnett at jimstinnett@tds.net.
See photos