"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest... Leave them for the poor, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."

Lev 19:9 and Dt 24:19 (NIV)

Many of us take fresh produce and the rewards of our gardens for granted, but for those less fortunate in our community, having a healthy, nutritious meal is only a dream. Thanks to Project Glean, the support of many volunteers, and the generosity of several long-time farming families, those dreams become reality for many.

Project Glean brings COMPA staff and volunteers together to spend several hours on Saturdays (occasionally, weekday gleans are available, too!) in September and October harvesting fresh produce from local farms in Denver, Brighton and Wellington. The produce is then brought back to COMPA’s Food Processing Center, where volunteers sort and prepare the bounty for distribution through COMPA’s Farm Market program, which serves area hunger relief agencies with free meals for those in need. It's a great program that gets Colorado-grown fresh produce out into the community that needs it most. 

Volunteers in the Project Glean program include families, Scout groups, churches, businesses and schools. Unlike many service projects that require kids to be of a certain age to participate, children of all ages get the opportunity to work alongside family members and learn what it truly means to give back.  

Here's what you can expect during a day of gleaning.

Need more information to share with friends and co-workers? Check out our Project Glean brochure! 

Interested in volunteering for the upcoming harvest? Register your space with us via email to volunteer(at)compa(dot)org or contact us directly. 

Have you gleaned with us over the past few years? Please consider being a key volunteer during this year's harvest. Your help will be greatly appreciated and it's a great way to step up your service! Contact us for more information at volunteer(at)compa(dot)com.