Gleaners banquet raises $100k

On Saturday, April 20, the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners held their annual Fundraising Banquet at the Portuguese Club where over 365 people attended. 

Through generous sponsorships, 95 different silent auction items and 10 live auction items, over $100,000 was raised.

 It was a fun evening that included a guest speaker from the Canadian Food for Children. This organization distributes much of the Gleaners’ soup mix in Africa and Central America. 

The Southwestern Ontario Gleaners is located in Leamington. They rescue non-marketable produce like potatoes, carrots, peppers, onions and tomatoes and transform that into a dried vegetable soup mix. This mix is then distributed locally to food banks and other local charities, as well as international agencies. 

The Gleaners average over 25 volunteers per day, but more are always needed. They are open for volunteers every weekday from 8 am to 12 noon.

“We’re grateful to our many supporters who contribute through produce donations, financial donations and volunteering,” said General Manager Joel Epp. “Because of this support, we hope to surpass five million servings distributed in 2024. The proceeds of the banquet go towards the operational costs of the Gleaners. 

Unfortunately, millions of people go hungry every day around the world. Locally, for many families the need for nutritious food is only increasing. This community is full of agricultural abundance. 

Together, the SWO Gleaners is making a difference to combat local and world hunger.