Jan and Jerry Althoff
In 2009, the Adams County Gleaning Network was created as a community initiative. For four years, Jan and Jerry Althoff volunteered to coordinate the Gleaning Network under The Society of St. Andrew, a national faith-based gleaning and food recovery non-profit. In their spare time, they saved a yearly average of 100,000 lbs. of produce to be distributed through the South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP) food pantry.
As the project grew, the Althoffs were no longer able to run the Gleaning Network in addition to owning and operating their family's plant nursery, Countryside Gardens. In 2013, with the support of the Adams County Food Policy Council, SCCAP adopted the program and The Gleaning Project of South Central PA was born.
Learn more about the foundation of The Gleaning Project here: Jan and Jerry Althoff - The Foundation of TGP
In 2013, The Gleaning Project established a committed foundation of volunteers, growers and distributing community partners. That year we salvaged 56,000 lbs. of food throughout Adams County, PA.
Ribbon cutting for the rennovated food pantry and produce stand in Adams County in 2016
In 2014, we expanded to Franklin County and rescued over 200,000 lbs. of produce, working with 62 growers, 54 community partners, and 310 volunteers.
From 2015 to 2018, we continued to grow in both counties, gleaned between 240,000 lbs. to 300,000 lbs. of produce each year, and fed over 26,000 food-insecure individuals in our community.
In 2019, we continue to develop relationships with our local growers to address food insecurity in our region. We look to collaborate with more community partners to creatively reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition.
We are always looking for ways to build capacity, create new partnerships, and improve our innovative solution to agricultural excess and food insecurity. Anyone with thoughts or suggestions for the future of this project is invited to contact us at thegleaningproject@gmail.com