Our mission is to help alleviate hunger by collecting food that would be thrown away and distributing it to agencies that feed the hungry.

Urban Gleaners is a small, volunteer organization that picks up edible food from farmers markets, restaurants, grocery stores, event sites and delivers it to local agencies that feed the hungry. Hunger is not a problem of scarce resources but inefficient distribution. The concept of picking up and redistributing food is a simple weapon in the fight against hunger. While our program does not address the root causes of poverty and socio-economic inequalities we do have a major impact on hunger locally.

It is estimated that 4-5% of Oregon households went hungry sometime in the past year and approximately 13% of households were food insecure (individuals or families uncertain about whether they would be able to afford to purchase nutritional food). Last year the Oregon Food Bank distributed close to 900,000 emergency food boxes to hungry families; 38% of these recipients were children. It has been demonstrated that poor nutrition places the hungry at risk for a variety of illnesses.

Each year, Americans throw away about 150 pounds of food per person. In the Portland area close to 200,00 tons of food ends up in landfills, creating greenhouse gasses. Food waste is a lost opportunity to feed the hungry among us.

Our network of unpaid volunteers rescues food everyday from locations throughout the Portland Metropolitan area and delivers it to groups that feed the hungry such as: Blanchet House, Sunshine Pantry, Friendly House, New Avenues for Youth and PEAR.

We are always looking for more sources of food and more volunteers to help. Both Federal and State law protect food donors from liability. Hunger is a huge global problem, but as Mother Teresa once said “If you can’t feed a hundred people then just feed one.”

We hope you can help. Please contact us at info@urbangleaners.org, or call Tracy Oseran/Jane Anne Morton at 503 226-8061

Named the best granola by Oregonian Best Bites, Oct. 10 2008, Tracy's Small-Batch Granola lets you eat well while helping others. Now available at all Zupan’s Markets, New Season’s Markets, Strohecker’s, Foster & Dobbs, Pastaworks at City Market, and served for breakfast at Bijou Café and Podnah’s. For ordering and wholesale info: e-mail janeanne@urbangleaners.org or call 503.226.8061.

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"Once-in-a Blue Moon Granola" Now available at select stores this holiday season!