This Saturday, November 22nd from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fresno State volunteers will have the opportunity to choose from two different projects for Serving Fresno Day. The projects include a trail restoration and construction at the McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve with Sierra Foothill Conservancy or gleaning with the help of Fresno State’s Richter Center and Associated Students, Inc. (ASI).
ASI will assist Fresno State’s Gleaning Program. The program serves as a food recovery network. The goal is to glean and donate 20,000 pounds of fresh produce to people in need.
Gleaning consists of organizing student volunteers to pick and gather fruits and vegetables that were left over from the commercial harvest. Typically, the produce does not make the grade due to minor cosmetic blemishes but still have all the nutritional value.
Local agricultural businesses make the gleaning possible by donating picking supplies for the operation. The Fresno Food Bank has donated bins.
Students will be gleaning grapes, pomegranates and mandarins from packing farms in Fowler, CA. ASI will provide transportation for volunteers in need. Student volunteers will receive a safety and training orientation before gleaning.
All volunteers will be provided with lunch following their service work.
For those students wishing to be involved in collaborations for Richter Center and ASI serve days in the future can see the Richter Center website for future serve dates. Save the Date for Spring into Service (date and information can be found on the Richter Center website).