Congregational Harvest
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you something to drink?'​
"Whenever you did it to the least of these, you did it to me."
Matthew 25:37,40
The Congregational Harvest is a program that helps churches organize their members to purchase a few extra items of food, or gleanings, when they do their regular grocery shopping. These gleanings are brought to worship as a part of one's offering to God, stored, and delivered to a local food bank by congregational volunteers. It is recommended that the congregation begin a three- to six-month pilot program that will test how members respond and allow for any adjustments that will improve the project's effectiveness going forward. At the end of the pilot project, a decision regarding whether to continue with a one-year project will be made.
Volunteers
A Field Manager and an Assistant Field Manager are recruited to plan and supervise the project. As few as four Gatherers, each serving on a given Sunday every month, receive the gleanings from members prior to worship and place the gleanings in the designated storage area. As few as two carriers periodically transport the gleanings to the food bank.
Space & Equipment
A conspicuous space in the lobby of the worship center where a table can be set up and a designated storage area is the only space that is required. No additional equipment is needed other than a sign that identifies the table for Gleaners' Harvest and some heavy-duty paper grocery bags with handles for storing and transporting the gleanings. (Members can be asked to recycle their used grocery bags for this purpose.)
Project Cost
The cost to a congregation, beyond what individuals spend purchasing the gleanings, is virtually nothing. There could be a minimal expense if a congregation chooses to purchase professionally made banners that would identify the Gleaners' Harvest area, but even such a small expense might well be covered by an individual donor.
Here To Help
Contact us with any questions that arise during the planning or implementing of the project.