On Saturday, April 20th, the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners held its annual Fundraising Banquet at the Portuguese Club. Over 365 people attended.
Thanks to generous sponsorships, 95 silent auction items, and 10 live auction items, as a result, over $100,000 was raised.
It was a fun evening that included a guest speaker from the Canadian Food for Children. This organization distributes our 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 every day, but more is always needed. They are open for volunteers every weekday from 8 am to 12 noon.
The SWO Gleaners thanks their many supporters who contribute through produce donations, financial donations, and volunteering. Because of this support, they hope to surpass 5 million servings distributed in 2024. The proceeds of the banquet go towards the operational costs of the Gleaners. Thank you to the local businesses and individuals who all played a big part in making this fundraiser a success.
Unfortunately, millions of people go hungry every day around the world. Locally, the need for nutritious food is only increasing for many families. This community is full of agricultural abundance and together, with the SWO Gleaners we are working to combat local and world hunger.
