Organizational History of Senior Gleaners, Inc.

Senior Gleaners, Inc. is a unique 100% VOLUNTEER, nonprofit organization, where NO ONE receives a salary, dedicated to helping feed the hungry in five counties throughout Northeastern California.

Senior Gleaners was founded on June 24, 1976.  Thirty retired seniors gathered to glean surplus fruits and vegetables from farmers 'fields and orchards for their own use.  The surpluses were donated to a local soup kitchen.  Using a private garage, food storage requirements of the organization were met by utilizing refrigerators.  Over the years, as the amount of food substantially increased, we moved several times and continually upgraded our storage facilities with walk-in freezers and coolers. 

Or organizational structure began with the founder who appointed several assistants to help distribute the food.   As we developed people in the community offered volunteer and organizational assistance.  We contacted food retailers and distributors and asked for their expired shelf-life food products and asked the farmers for their leftover produce after harvest.  Most began to donate on a regular basis.  The food was then sorted and channeled through our network of charitable organizations for distribution to feed the needy.

Senior Gleaners, Inc. is administered by a nine-member Board of Directors, and Advisory Board compromised of community leaders, and a large administrative staff which oversees our daily operations of retired volunteers.  We supply food and household products to 135 charities who distribute the food to the needy in our region.  In addition to food distributors, retailers, farmers and other sources of food support, or financial support comes from grants, direct mail solicitation and a Bingo operation. 

We receive no government, state or local funding, and we are not members of United Way.  We rely, as we have since we were founded in1976, upon foundations, corporations, the private sector and concerned individuals for funding.

From our beginning we have insisted on fairness and equality, and have included in our Bylaws the following statement:

"No person shall  be excluded from participating in or benefiting from any activity of  this corporation by reason of race, creed, color, gender, religion or national origin."

For 31 years Senior Gleaners, Inc. has been successfully supplying food to  135 charitable organizations in Sacramento County and the outlying areas helping to feed over 3.5 million needy people.  Hunger is a year round reality inn our communities.  We are doing what we can to lessen the pain associated with hunger and poverty.  Every loaf of bread, every carton of milk and every portion of fresh fruit or vegetables distributed to the hungry is a small step in that direction. 

Since our beginning in 1976, we have known, and realize more as time goes on, that our work and goal of feeding the hungry is essential and appreciated by our local governments and citizens in our region.  We consider it a privilege to volunteer our time and talents to helping those less fortunate than ourselves, especially the children and the elderly, who benefit greatly from the work of Senior Gleaners, Inc.

We invite you to visit our facility at any time so that you may personally observe our operation.