It’s a new year, and we’re looking ahead to some really exciting things in 2017—though it’s going to be hard to top the record-breaking year we had in 2016. Last year, we gleaned more than 270,000 pounds of food—the most in a year yet!—and our supporters blessed us with their overwhelming support during the Good Giving Guide Challenge, helping us to raise $27,520 and ranking us third among the other mid-size nonprofits in the competition.
But 2017 is already off to a good start! In just over a week, we’ve gleaned nearly 3,000 pounds thanks to the help of our volunteers, and we welcomed a fourth staff person to our team. Rachael Dupree will serve as our program director, helping to spread the work GleanKY does to other counties in Kentucky. As we look to the year ahead and the potential growth that’s to come, we asked our staff and county coordinators to share what they are most looking forward to in 2017.
Stephanie Wooten, Executive Director
I am most looking forward to learning more about our neighboring counties and how we can best serve their needs. I’m excited to involve more of our neighbors in the gleaning process as a way to reduce hunger and food waste, and I look forward to seeing the shape the GleanKY model takes across the region.
Ben Southworth, Development Coordinator
I’m most looking forward to seeing GleanKY grow in 2017! Now, finally, with a full-time staff of four, it’s going to be very exciting to see our mission and impact begin to grow to people all across the Bluegrass.
Rachael Dupree, Program Director
As a volunteer for many years, I’m excited to now be able to work with GleanKY on a full-time basis. I’m looking forward to meeting the gleaners, farmers, grocery store managers and others who want to partner with us to ensure even more people in Kentucky have access to fresh, healthy food!
Jordan Engel, Fayette County Coordinator
This coming year is teaming with potential to innovate our local food system to work for everybody. I’m perhaps most excited to be working with our community’s farmers and gardeners to really make a dent in food waste and food insecurity.
Rita Brothers, Franklin County Coordinator
I am looking forward to recruiting Franklin County volunteers to pick up and deliver fresh produce. This will give me time to process excess produce for distribution during the winter.