GleanKY has seen many milestones in my 2 year tenure as Executive Director: hiring our first full time employee, hiring our second and third, moving into our first office space, outgrowing our first office space, holding our first volunteer orientation, forming our first Chapter, receiving our first large grant award. Most of these milestones aren’t sexy. They’re the result of hours of work by our board, our staff, and our most dedicated supporters. Long meetings, thoughtful discussions, and tough decisions have driven our growth.
This milestone is different. This is your milestone. GleanKY redistributed one million pounds because of you. Over 400 of you have carried produce from the loading dock of a grocery or a farm field to the open arms of one of our agency partners. 70 of you have patiently worked through the logistics of receiving and utilizing fresh produce in your agency programming. 30 of you have opened receiving doors, barn doors, or cooler doors every week with a smile, eager to share with us what you can’t use yourself. 3,000 of you engage with our social media posts on food waste and hunger, spreading the word of our mission. 50,000 of you have tried a new piece of fruit, shared a vegetable dish with your neighbor, fed your children produce in disguise, or otherwise welcomed fresh produce into your life.
GleanKY, in every sense, is a success because of you. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.