Giving thanks for the Gleaners
FORT BRAGG » “If you are not from here, you will not believe this place,” said one client. “I have lived here for over four years and this Food Bank never ceases to amaze with fresh produce, some is even from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens — organic items, ‘hippie’ breads, dessert, dog food, cat food and more … these guys are local heroes.”
According to a Wikipedia definition, “gleaning” is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest. There are many in our town who can be considered gleaners. Earlier this year, I saw one man carrying a bumper crop of apples into the Food Bank to share. Another day someone might bring plums, another day perhaps some chard or kale. Heck, the Food Bank even takes zucchini!
Two main local sources for much-needed produce are the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and the Noyo Food Forest.
Mendocino Coast Botanical
Gardens: The vegetable garden at MCBG has a dedicated group of volunteers who work each week, yearround. It’s because of these volunteers that MCBG is able to provide the Food Bank with over three tons of food annually. Every week crates are delivered that are filled to the brim with veggies. The folks at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens are thrilled to have the bounty from their demonstration vegetable garden going to a great cause, and Jim DiMauro, the warehouse manager at the Food Bank is always grateful and gracious.
Noyo Food Forest: Emily Forster, Director, states: “Noyo Food Forest in 2020 distributed sustainably grown produce to our local Fort Bragg Food Bank, the FBUSD meals program and our new online sales/curbside pickup. While 2020 presented extra challenges, including loss of our biggest fundraising event, our nonprofit continued to provide garden education, low cost plant starts and gardenfresh food to our community.”
In addition to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and the Noyo Food Forest, the list of Food Bank gleaners is a long one. Here are a few more: Café Beaujolais, Corners of the Mouth, D’Aurelios, Dollar Tree, El Yuca, Flow Restaurant, Fort Bragg Bakery, Garden Bakery, Goodlife Bakery, Harvest at Mendosa’s, Harvest Market, Little River Market, Mendocino Café, Mendocino Coast Produce, Mendocino Cookie Company, North Coast Brewing Company, Nye Ranch, Purity Supermarket, Safeway, Thanksgiving Coffee and Vinny’s Pizza.
Plus, we certainly don’t want to forget all the local gardeners who donate from their home gardens to the Fort Bragg’s Farm Stand. So, you see, the list is a long one. And I’m sure I’ve missed a few!
Volunteer Spotlight: Nancy Kann
Angela Dominguez, Ad
ministrative Assistant at the Fort Bragg Food Bank, writes the following about volunteer Nancy Kann:
“She has been giving her time and skills to the Food Bank for ten years now! She started to volunteer when her late husband passed away and now she continues to help during COVID-19 because she loves to help people and she wants to make sure that everyone is getting fed! She has been helping in the kitchen tremendously by bringing already made ( just need to be baked or heated) items in for our staff and volunteer lunch! We are practicing safe social distancing in the kitchen when we eat lunch and it wouldn’t be possible without the yummy food Nancy and her girls provide for us! We are so grateful and beyond that we LOVE to see Nancy and her energy is so awesome — it’s always a good day when Nancy Kann is here at the Fort Bragg Food Bank “
Make a Season of Sharing donation
No donation is too small. Every penny goes to the Food Bank, which is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit. Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, in-person donations are not recommended. Please donate by one of the following: mail, credit card (via phone) or PayPal. See below for more information.
By mail: The Food Bank, P. O. Box 70, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. Note “Season of Sharing” on your check and indicate whether you want your name published.
Credit card: Call the Food Bank, 707-964-9404, to donate using a Master
Card or Visa. Ask the staff member to note that your donation is for the Season of Sharing.
PayPal: Go to fortbraggfoodbank.org and click the Donate button. Type “Season of Sharing” in the comment line below the amount of your donation.
Donors’ names are printed in the newspapers as we receive them from the Food Bank. Only donations specifically earmarked “Season of Sharing” are published in the newspapers. If you prefer that your donation be anonymous, please clearly note that on your check, PayPal payment or when contacting the Food Bank.
Donations may be made in memory or in honor of special people in your life. Just be sure that information accompanies your donation.
The 2020 drive ends Dec. 31. There is still time to donate. Thank you to last week’s generous donors: Jeanette Boyer, Glass Beach Bed & Breakfast Inn (Nancy Cardenas and Richard Fowler), Fort Bragg Garden Club, Tom and Julee Estes, Margaret and Karl Kramp, Scott Bartholomew, Rosemary Bartholomew, Jennifer Shipp and Heidi Kistner, Ariana and Josh MacDonald, Judith Bayer, Allison Paranka, Tom Rawlins, Holly Rawlins, Michelle and Nick Rawlins, Nancy Paranka, James Shipp and Dixie Shipp. The Season of Sharing donations total through Dec. 27 is $9,145.00.
Let’s all share the Food Bank’s vision of “people coming together to create hope for a dignified and abundant life for everyone.”