On Saturday, September 27,  a group of SUNY Fredonia students from the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity gave of their time and got active in the Chautauqua County Gleaning Project.  In two hours, they gleaned 271 pounds of grapes growing wild and untended in a field in Dunkirk owned by Mr. and Mrs. Neft and Aida De Jesus.  Ms. De Jesus was just excited that the grapes were going to such a great cause.  Over the next two days, the gleaned grapes, which otherwise would have just rotted on the vines, will be distributed to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters throughout the county.  There are still many more acres of grapes to glean.  “The harvest truly is plenteous,” states volunteer gleaner Carlos Maldonado, “but we need the help of more volunteers to take advantage of all this nutritious food that is just going to waste.”  To get active and help your community, call 716.366.1787 ext. 14 or email get.active@gleanchautauqua.org.

Tomorrow, the Gleaning Project crew will be convening for some heavy weeding at one of its community garden sites in Westfield, NY. The garden is by far one of the most productive pieces of land the project has at its disposal this season, which is why it is vital to get the weeds out before they damage the plants. We definitely need all the help we can get! Come on out and fight hunger! Email jason.petsch@gleanchautauqua.org for details and directions!