The Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) helps our brothers and sisters in the community by harvesting produce left in fields and orchards after commercial harvesting. This organization is right in line with one of my personal philosophies: "think globally, act locally". They help reduce food waste and get the food to people who need it. SoSA is great!
I have donated and volunteered with Society of St. Andrew for years and have never met a more Godly group of people dedicated to helping others.
They provide us with fresh sweet potatoes. The potatoes are enjoyed by many in our area. We appreciate the friendliness and compassion of Society of St. Andrew for those who are in need.
We love working with Society of St. Andrew they help us with a variety of material for our church congregation on hunger. So many people are food insecure and embarassed about asking for assistance and do not want to answer all the personal question at the Food Stamp Office. These materials let them know that they are not alone and we are happy to pass them along.
Maudine Holloway, Executive Director Community Enabler Anniston, Alabama
At this writing Society of St Andrew Indiana is a little over a year old. During that time, Ann and Dawn have built up a large network of farms and volunteers and compiled a database of food pantries, banks and kitchens that spans the whole state. I have gleaned apples and cucumbers and researched farms in northern Indiana. I love that the Society is working as a middleman-we own no trucks or warehouses- but bring together the right people and equipment to move excess or cosmetically blemished produce to hungry people.
SoSA came to the rescue when we needed sweet potatoes to prepare and serve at our Community Ministries at my church, Highland United Methodist in Birmingham,AL. I was impressed by the Volunteer who met me with a large delivery. Before that time I was unaware of the gleaning of farms that is being done by a super dedicated group of people! Thank you for your much needed service to all! Fran Hopkins
SOCA helps our food pantry so much in providing fresh produce to our ministry. We are grateful for this organization and look forward to working with them in the future.
I've supported SOSA for more than three decades now. What could make more sense than to salvage good fresh food that otherwise would go to waste, and distribute it to agencies and community groups to feed hungry people? Generous farmers and dedicated gleaning (harvesting) volunteers provide the produce; financial contributions make transportation possible. Fresh fruits and vegetables are valuable items in food banks and pantries; SOSA makes it possible for thousands and thousands of families to enjoy them.
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I've donated to SOSA for decades because they do the most good in connecting available food to people who need it. It makes perfect sense to transport donated food from farmers and growers (often due to cosmetic issues in marketing) and deliver it to food banks and other distribution sites where people in need can obtain it. Nutritious food doesn't go to waste, and people don't go hungry. Perfect!
I love working with the Society of St Andrew because it connects me with the hunger issues of our country. I have been able to peel back the blinders & learn how many of our brothers & sisters struggle with food insecurity. SoSA is a great organization that connects food with the hungry in the best ways possible. They work directly with farmers and food ministries & never charge or make people "verify" that they need the food. It amazes me every year to see how much food is redeemed in this country. There truly is enough food! We just have to put forth the time, effort & money to help save it!
Society of St. Andrew employees are passionate, kind, good hearted people who do God's work each and every day. The overhead is very very minimal compared to other non-profits and yet the employees remain passionate about what they are doing and find ways to do what is necessary on a dime. Great stewards of the money that is donated, they also ensure they are being great stewards of the environment - keeping left over produce in the fields from going to the dump and later creating methane gas which is very very bad for the environment, trapping heat to our planet. A big thanks to all of the SoSA employees who work to keep this modest yet healthy organization going year after year. Happy 40th anniversary!
SoSA shares abundance. There is more than enough food to feed those who are food insecure and the work of SoSA gets the food from the fields to the those who need it. I am a monthly donor and very happy to support the work of sharing abundance!
Growing up, I would occasionally hear about "potato drops" and see pictures of great big piles of potatoes... But I was never involved in any of it.
Now that I'm older and working, it's a privilege to donate to SoSA. Every time I make a donation, I am confident that my dollars are used wisely. It's a comfort knowing that I'm actually making a difference in the lives of my neighbors, friends, and community.
I have three most favorite parts about SoSA. The first is that there are no requirements for people and agencies to be able to receive food that's available. No one is required to verify income or explain their situation or make excuses. They're simply invited to share and take what's needed.
The second part I love so much is the diligent financial management exercised by everyone in the organization. The entire team, across the nation, demonstrate a commitment to using all funds as wisely as possible. That dedication is how they keep the overhead so incredibly low.
The third part is getting to recruit other people into the mission who want to make a difference in their communities or for the environment or in the mission to end hunger. It's such a joy to explain SoSA to a person who's interested in learning more and seeing them become excited and passionate about the mission and diving in head first to give, serve, and share.
Society of St. Andrew is great way for individuals and families to learn about hunger in their own communities and how they can help alleviate it. Anyone can signup to glean crops that will not go to market and will be tilled into the ground. Over 20 years ago, I heard our pastor tell his story of driving a truck to deliver potatoes that were gleaned by SoSA volunteers. Since then, I have gleaned turnips, tomatoes, apples, sweet potatoes, corn, grapes, assorted greens, and strawberries. Family and friends have helped too. We have always had a grand time doing it and there is inspiring comraderie among the volunteers while gleaning. Giving children of all ages the opportunity to see where there food comes from is a memorable experience.
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Gleaning is a great way to help the hungry and malnourished receive fresh produce. Through the Society of St. Andrew, I was contacted to glean mustard greens in a local field where it had been arranged with the farmer for a team of volunteers to harvest these beautiful "vegees". Also, I invited a few Habitat for Humanity residents and an unemployed individual to also glean for their families and others in need. It averages about 2 cents per serving for the fresh produce that is gleaned to get where it is needed. What a bargain! It's a great way to save produce that would have been turned under to rot, feed those who can't afford fresh produce, and meet like minded individuals interested in feeding thosed in need. I support SoSA with my time, and resources. Getting the word out to recruit farmers with produce to be gleaned and lining up new volunteers to help glean and deliver is a challenge.
This is my second year working as a volunteer for the Reuters YMCA doing gleaning directed by Deidre in the Asheville area. This organization has a great staff and Deidre is very organized and committed to her volunteers. I have helped with several special projects for school children at Mills River Farms and it has been a joy watching these youngsters learn about farming and how to be good stewards of our land. So much is shared when we all work to help those that are less fortunate than ourselves. Thank you Society of St. Andrew for being there and providing me with the opportunity to help others. Sandy Arnold
We could not adequately meet the need in Western North Carolina without the help of Society of St. Andrew. They open doors to thousands of pounds of wonderful healthy foods for our neighbors who need food support. Our volunteers enjoy the gleaning events and look forward to the experiences. They are always well organized and yield more than we had expected. I can't thank Deidre Duffy and her team enough for all they do. It's a true blessing for this community to have Society of St. Andrew among us.
Bruce Ganger
Executive Director
Bounty & Soul
www.bountyandsoul.org
SOSA is such a blessing to the folks in middle Tennessee. We have gleaned with them and they care so much about getting the best products they can get to the places that need them most. Kelsey Miller has been great communicating with us about where and when we can glean and the best places in need of help feeding hungry residents.
SoSA accomplishes more with their funds than any other organization I know. Getting food to food banks is one thing wonderful, but they also incorporate so many learning experiences with gleaning, VBS materials, Advent and Lenten devotion materials, and I love their every year unique donation Christmas cards.
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I have always been enthused about the mission and work of Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) - the principle of salvaging use-able fresh foods and sharing it with food banks so that it goes directly to people who can use it. Gleaning events are hands-on and inter-generational, and the Harvest of Hope programs are longer sessions which include spiritual and educational components. I love the annual Christmas "donor" cards with their unique and inspirational art. I always look for ways to promote and support SoSA.
SoSA feeds the hungry around this country by gleaning nutritious, delicious food from the fields and transporting the food to food banks and agencies - volunteer gleaners keep food from spoiling in the fields, and food insecure individuals & families benefit from the fresh, nutritious fruits & vegetables! A win-win!!!
I have been a volunteer trucker since 1992. Been many miles (over 200,000) and to dozens of farms and produce houses. have meet hundreds of people and meet new ones each year. have worked for several co-ordinators and some of them are now gleaner volunteers. The S.O.S.A. workers/volunteers are dedicated to helping feed the needy. thankfully the world is full of these people.
Bill Parsons
