Gleaners all souped up
Group serves up 100 million servings of soup world-wide
The Okanagan Gleaners will soon top 100 million servings of soup sent to hungry people around the world.
The Oliver-based group was started in 1994 by a few Christians who decided to use the food they saw going to waste around them to help feed starving people worldwide.
Production started in 1996 with 100,000 servings.
“In 2018, we will be crossing the 100 million threshold — all from donated vegetables,” said general manager Greg Masson.
Masson assumed his duties in April 2015 following a career in advertising sales in Penticton.
The recent arrival of a large gas-fired dryer has greatly increased production capacity.
“We named the dryer ‘Ruth’ after the Biblical Ruth, a great gleaner,” Masson explained.
Ruth dries the same volume as her predecessor in one-third the time while using 75 per cent less natural gas and 35 per cent less electricity.
Even with Ruth, production level is ultimately determined by the availability of vegetables.
“In the summer most of the fruits and vegetables come from the Oliver and Grand Forks areas while in the winter we get some hot house vegetables from the Fraser Valley,” Masson explained.
The recent loss of product from Lucerne Foods in Abbotsford which went exclusively to handling berries and organic broccoli was compensated by B.C. Frozen Foods in Mission coming on board.
“Small quantity donations are welcome. Don’t throw anything away,” Masson said.
‘Donating’ is the fundamental principle that allows The Okanagan Gleaners to function on an annual operating budget of approximately $260,000 which equates to a tiny fraction of a penny per serving of soup.
“The money comes in small amounts from people who like what we are doing,” Masson said.
Each year volunteers of all ages from diverse geographic areas work mornings six days a week to wash, slice and dry the donated vegetables.
Recently, volunteers have been students from Penticton Christian School, Rosthern Junior College in Rosthern, Saskatchewan and Federal Way, Washington.
Grade six students from Oliver Elementary also lend a hand.
Families, youth groups and others spend part of their vacation volunteering, many staying on-site in RVs and tents.
“Work with us in the morning and explore the South Okanagan in the afternoon,” Masson said.
Reputable, well-established relief organizations such as World Vision Canada, the Mennonite Central Committee and New Beginnings Ministries distribute the food. The Gleaners expect an accounting that the product has arrived at its destination in good condition and has been properly distributed.
Over the years, soup mixes and apple chips, a sweet treat for children in orphanages, have been sent to over 50 countries around the world.
Last year, in one region of the Guatemalan highlands, a total of 8,754 people benefitted from the soup mix which was distributed to 48 elementary schools and 48 community health centres.
“These contributions are very important in schools, and deliveries of soup serve as part of the renovation of our children,” wrote an elementary school principal.
Okanagan Gleaners dried soup mix contains various combinations of over 20 types of vegetables.
Over the years, the Okanagan Gleaners have inspired individuals to help others, such as Hugo Ciro, co-owner of Level Ground Trading in Victoria.
Ciro established a dried fruit business in Colombia which employs only women, mainly from the sex trade.
“My satisfaction comes from knowing that we are making a difference in somebody’s life. I don’t know who that somebody is, but I know we’ve made a difference,” Masson said.
The Okanagan Gleaners is located at 507 No. 3 Road in Oliver.
For information visit www.okanagangleaners.com or email Masson at okgmanager@gmail.com or call him at (250) 498-8859.
Susan McIver is a Penticton writer with a keen interest in agriculture.