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Building toward the day no one goes
hungry
Guest Column
By JOHN LEONARD
THE GALVESTON COUNTY DAILY NEWS
Published December 4, 2009
When an organization
filled with compassion and alive with passion holds a clear,
unwavering tenet, a tremendous potential for great accomplishments
exists.
The guiding principle that drives Gleanings From The Harvest —
“Because No One Should Go Hungry” — has fueled this organization of
four full-time employees to provide a sustained supply of food,
cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products to the citizens of
Galveston County when they have needed it most.
Present on Galveston Island since 2003, Gleanings From The Harvest
quietly has operated a number of programs that have assisted our
citizens who have experienced need at the most basic level — food.
From programs geared toward elderly citizens on limited, fixed
incomes, school children needing better nourishment, grandparents who
are raising grandchildren, those struggling to find work and those of
us working hard but still unable to make ends meet, Gleanings has been
there to provide a helping hand.
When I was blessed to cross paths with the organization, I held what I
feel is a common misunderstanding that hunger in America is the result
of a shortage of food. I quickly realized that there is an abundance
of available food, but the infrastructure to deliver it to those in
most need is missing. Gleanings From The Harvest efficiently has been
serving as a link between surplus food and those in need while
operating with a shoestring budget and limited operation capability.
Despite a modest beginning, Gleanings has never wavered on its mission
to bring a food bank to Galveston County, so that all of the county’s
citizens could benefit from enhanced assistance.
Hurricane
Ike created a need unlike any the organization had ever seen. Although
suffering the loss of food supplies, vehicles, refrigeration units,
computers and forklift trucks, Gleanings From The Harvest faced the
disaster as an opportunity to shine.
The organization quickly mobilized to increase the scope of a new
mobile-food program that funneled large amounts of food and disaster
relief to areas that were most affected by the storm.
From July, 2008 through July this year, Gleanings distributed 70
percent of the more than 10,000,000 pounds of food that Houston Food
Bank made available to the Galveston County area in that time. This
tremendous accomplishment helped to secure the support from Houston
Food Bank for the development of the Galveston County Food Bank — a
reality That Gleanings is bringing to the area in January.
Gleanings From The Harvest is nearing the completion of the
renovations to an 11,500-square-foot building in Texas City that will
meet the minimum requirements necessary to become Galveston County’s
first “certified” food bank. Upon its opening, the new facility will
enhance the organization’s ability to store and distribute food,
greatly advancing the effectiveness of local pantries and social
service organizations.
The remarkable progress on the renovations to the facility has come
through the tireless efforts of many local and out-of-state
volunteers, contractors willing to donate time or reduce fees and
individuals and organizations that have donated funds toward the
endeavor. This group effort clearly demonstrates what can be achieved
by those inspired to help others.
I am very fortunate to work for a company that takes pride in making a
positive difference in the communities in which it does business. I
was thrilled to take part in the recent presentation of a donation of
$100,000 from the Valero Texas City Refinery to Gleanings From The
Harvest.
Our organization has also had tremendous assistance from our county’s
political leaders and, as president of its board of directors, I am
exited about our Harvest Moon gala on Dec. 13, when we will honor
state representatives Craig Eiland and Larry Taylor and Sen. Mike
Jackson as our “men of the year” for all the help they have afforded
us during our food-bank project.
Widespread support from county businesses and leaders is critical for
the long-term success of the
county’s new food bank. By joining forces and working together, we
really can make a difference in Galveston County — because no one
should go hungry.
[John Leonard is
president of Gleanings From The Harvest
board of directors.]
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