Mission & Vision 

The Purpose of Wenatchee Valley Gleaners is to provide food and hope to the hungry and poor of our world, by being good stewards of our God given resources.

To establish a local gleaning ministry in the Wenatchee Valley area that will process surplus food which will be used to feed the poor and hungry, locally and world-wide. To take a team of volunteers once per year to locations where food is delivered and minister to the people. To replicate gleaning ministries, unique to other agricultural areas throughout the United States. We envision churches, communities, schools, businesses, youth & civic groups, farmers, orchardists, senior citizens, and families working together to fulfill this vision.

• To begin a local gleaning ministry in the Wenatchee Valley area that will process surplus food which will be used to feed the poor and hungry, locally and world-wide. 
• To take a team of volunteers once per year to locations where food is delivered and minister to the people. 
• To replicate gleaning ministries, unique to other agricultural areas throughout the United States. 
• We envision churches, communities, schools, businesses, youth & civic groups, farmers, orchardists, senior citizens, and families working together to fulfill this vision.

Background Information 

The Wenathchee Valley Gleaners was formed as a non-profit tax-deductible corporation in February 2004. In March several board members and  volunteers visited Okanagan Gleaners in Oliver B.C. This ministry, which began in 1994, dries a variety of donated fruit and soup mixes consisting of brussel sprouts, onions, tomatoes, carrots, corn, peppers, beans, lentils, and barley. In 2003, Okanagon Gleaners, with the help of volunteers produced over six million servings. Their dried food was shipped in large containers to the Port of Seattle and provided to reputable, Relief organizations such as, World Vision, Mennonite Central Committee, and New Beginnings Ministry. Their food has been distributed to over 16 different counties, as well as local soup kitchens, food banks, and street ministries. The Columbia Basin Our Eastern Washington area has ideal growing conditions with an abundance of fruit and vegetable crops. However, fruit and vegetable prices in the eastern Washington area have been sorely depressed. Good food is being wasted or left un-harvested in the fields or orchards that could be salvaged. Confronted daily by the images of human starvation around the world, as well as needs in our own community, we feel a responsibility to “glean” this abundance and provide food and hope to those in need.

Consider the Facts:

An estimated 25% of the food produced in North America goes to waste or does not make it to market. An estimated 190 million Africans south of Sahara, a third of the population routinely lack sufficient food. An estimated 18 million people, mostly young, die each year of starvation. Dried fruit and vegetables retain up to 90% of their nutritional value at one eighth of the original weight. Donors such as orchardist, farmers, storage facilities, and packers benefit by having a ready available recipient for their food that may be destined for landfills.