VOLUNTEERING FAQ

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. This food surplus in fields on farms gets redirected and delivered to agencies that distribute to communities in need. As an efficient and effective solution to the twin challenges of food waste and hungry people, farm-based food recovery strengthens our local food system and makes our communities less dependent on commodity food shipped from thousands of miles away instead of what’s in our own backyard.

Hope’s Harvest runs multiple approximately 2-hour-long gleaning trips each week throughout the growing season in summer and fall at farms in RI and Southeastern MA. Each gleaning trip begins with an orientation and a harvesting demonstration for the crop(s) we are harvesting that day. Volunteers help harvest and pack the gleaned produce for distribution.

There are no skills, experience, or tools required to volunteer. Hope's Harvest staff provides all the necessary equipment and trains every volunteer on site. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and at least 16 years old to attend without a guardian.

Register as a volunteer on our website farmfreshri.org/volunteer. You will receive event invitations via mailing list where you can sign up for individual trips. There is NO obligation to participate when you register! Choose only the trips that work for your schedule.

We want our gleans to be as accessible as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about your physical ability in relation to a gleaning trip, don't hesitate to reach out to us. During a glean, volunteers can assist with harvesting or packing. Usually, we need the most help with harvesting. In general, harvesting may require walking on uneven terrain, bending / kneeling / squatting, lifting, and carrying harvest totes (which are as heavy as you fill them) to the packing area, which may be a few hundred feet away from the harvest area. Packing entails transferring the crop from the harvest totes into boxes or bins, weighing them, and loading them onto the truck. If our team has access to information about a specific farm or crop beforehand, we’ll be sure to include it in this event description and the order confirmation email.

Water, sunscreen, weather-appropriate clothing, including work boots or sneakers, that you don’t mind getting dirty. Other items you may want to bring include sunglasses, a hat, or clean work gloves.

Gleaning trips happen multiple times each week throughout the growing season in summer and fall. Most of our gleans are on weekdays with some evening and weekend trips.

We lead gleaning trips at numerous partner farms across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Hope's Harvest is ready to glean in most weather conditions, and we aren't scared of some rain! However, we do not proceed with gleaning in any heavy downpours or storms. If a glean needs to be canceled due to severe weather, a Hope's Harvest team member will contact you in advance via email. If you do not receive any communication, the glean is still scheduled to proceed as planned, and we look forward to your participation!

We have donated to 62 hunger relief agencies across the state including: the Olneyville Food Center, West End Community Center, Jonnycake Center of Westerly and Peacedale, the Elisha Project, MLK Community Center, East Bay Food Pantry, Community Action Partnership of Providence, We Share Hope, and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

​​Farmers work incredibly hard to feed people while trying to run sustainable businesses. If they have surplus crops in the field due to good weather, overproduction to help manage risks, or a lack of market for their products, they often can’t spare the labor to harvest, pack, and donate fresh, healthy food to people in need.

Yes, if your group is not affiliated with a business and you would like to plan a group trip, please use the following form to be connected to our team. Groups are typically limited to 10-20 people and dates vary based on the season.

Absolutely, we welcome corporate groups and are excited to discuss how your company can make an impact! To support our programs and ensure continued assistance to both farmers and families in need, we suggest a contribution of $75 per volunteer per shift for corporate groups. This helps cover program expenses and increases our impact on local communities. Kindly fill out this form to connect with our team. Group sizes are typically limited to 10-20 individuals, and available dates may vary depending on the season.