It’s hard to believe it, but we launched Glean Kentucky’s second region of service in southcentral Kentucky three years ago this month! Our first glean in the region took place at Top Crops Garden in September 2020. Later in the fall, we began gleaning surplus produce from farmers at Community Farmers Market in Bowling Green, which our team has continued doing ever since. Last year, grocery store gleaning from four locations in Bowling Green took off in earnest.
Now, you can find our staff and volunteers gleaning hundreds of pounds of fruits and vegetables from four grocery stores and the farmers market four days a week. We distribute the produce we glean to six different partner agencies in Bowling Green and Scottsville every week. Our network of partner agencies in the city serve a variety of different groups, including children, families with limited incomes, and victims of domestic violence. We are so proud of how far the program has come and incredibly thankful for all of the food donors, volunteers, and community partners who have helped make our work possible!
To mark three years of gleaning in southcentral Kentucky, we are planning a special celebration to show our appreciation for the warm welcome this community has shown us. On Saturday, October 7th from 3-5 pm Central Time, we will host the first-ever Glean Fest at First Christian Church in Bowling Green! At this free, family-friendly event, you’ll find games and activities, food trucks, and opportunities to connect with local nonprofits and businesses. We hope to see you there!
