It was a long-time goal of Amber, our ServeLocal Director, to be accepted into Gleaner’s Community Food Bank Partnership program. Amber participated in multiple interviews, facilitated a site visit, and implemented the necessary steps to apply for partnership…and this month her goal was realized! ServeLocal is now an approved partner of Gleaner’s!
On September 18, 2024 Gleaner’s delivered ServeLocal’s first shipment of produce, meat, and non-perishable items. Amber and her volunteers unpacked over 3,000 pounds of food!
Since the inception of ServeLocal, Amber has consistently implemented improvements and best practices that have grown the impact of ServeLocal to what it is today – an outreach service that is helping our community overcome food insecurity. This recent achievement, becoming a Gleaner’s partner, offers several benefits for our food pantry such as:
Access to a Large Network. Gleaners distributes millions of pounds of food through a network of partner pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other agencies. This means ServeLocal can benefit from a well-established distribution system.
Variety and Quality of Food: Gleaners provides a diverse range of food, including fresh produce and dairy. This will greatly enhance the nutritious options ServeLocal offers.
Efficiency and Transparency: Gleaners is known for its efficiency, with 92% of expenses directly supporting neighbors facing hunger. This ensures that donations and resources are used effectively.
By partnering with Gleaners, ServeLocal can significantly enhance its ability to serve the community and address food insecurity more effectively. Congratulation to Amber and the ServeLocal team for a job well-done!
“Over 3,000 pounds of food was delivered, with almost 1,000 pounds of produce! One pallet was taller than me!”