Excess crops are an essential source of fresh food for our neighbors. In 2024, 101,643 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables were gathered through 184 gleaning events — all thanks to the dedication of Food Share volunteers led by Head Gleaner, Dave Orr.
For the past 10 years, Dave has led Food Share’s gleaning program, coordinating volunteers, scouting for fruit to pick, and managing the logistics that bring fresh produce directly to families in need.
Dave’s work begins long before anyone sets foot in an orchard. He lines up sites, sends texts and emails to rally volunteers, and makes sure every ladder, bin, and registration detail is in place. Over the years, the program has shifted from row crops to citrus and avocados — crops that are abundant in Ventura County and a little easier for community volunteers to harvest.
What keeps Dave climbing trees and sending reminders after a decade of service? “Sometimes I’ll be up on a ladder, reaching for just one more orange,” he shares. “And I think — if I get this orange, maybe a seven-year-old will have it for breakfast. That keeps me going.”
The impact is felt not only by those who receive the food, but also by those who donate and volunteer. Homeowners with a single tree often light up when they hear how many pounds of fruit their tree produced and how quickly it will reach food pantries. Dave says, “It’s a win-win for Food Share because those donors will tell people about Food Share. They might tell someone with an orchard, or even a friend who can offer support.”
Dave sees gleaning as more than just picking fruit – It’s a way of living out this lesson his parents taught him: “We’re not alone, we’re all in this together, so let’s help each other.” He encourages anyone curious about gleaning to give it a try: the more hands, the faster and easier the work, with community impact and friendships as the lasting reward.
To Dave Orr, and to every volunteer, donor, and fruit grower who makes gleaning possible – thank you. Together we are harvesting hope and feeding Ventura County. To find out more about gleaning, visit www.foodshare.com/gleaning
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