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One of the primary ways UPP utilizes volunteers in season, ranging from individuals and families to faith groups and corporate teams, involves a work session on a farm and getting one’s hands in the dirt with our gleaning program. Gleaning is a component of our rescue and recovery of fresh produce. With the help of hundreds of volunteers annually, UPP partners with dozens of farmers, two local produce brokers and multiple farmer’s markets to rescue fresh produce.
* In 2024, well over a million pounds of fresh produce were rescued by our programs and volunteers and provided to local pantries, kitchens, shelters and schools. We helped with planting, maintaining and harvesting at local farms and gardens and over 100 farmer’s market rescues were completed allowing us to share tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce with local agencies. The volunteers provide small urban and rural farms with hours of labor that help support the growth and outreach of the farm in turn bringing more healthy produce to people throughout the KC community.
In the months when gleaning and market rescues are not occurring, UPP still utilizes volunteers to meet our mission of getting healthy produce to hungry people. Five days a week agencies arrive at the Kanbe’s Markets warehouse to receive fresh produce for their food pantry and/or feeding program. Volunteers are needed for several hours each day working with an UPP staff member to assist in the distribution by recording produce distributed to each agency.
If you would be willing to volunteer with UPP for the daily food distribution click on one of the sign up buttons below or contact the Volunteer Coordinator, catherine@uppkc.org.
UPP Warehouse Scribe
Let’s Meet UPP in the Gardens
The volunteer needs will increase in the early spring – the growing season – as UPP partners with local farms and community gardens to grow and harvest fresh produce to share with agencies across the Kansas City area. Plans are being made for our ‘time in the fields’ and opportunities will begin in late March. The volunteer needs will include:
Gleaning and Harvesting:
Farmers often have produce leftover that they can’t sell and don’t wish to throw away or turn under, so instead of letting it go to waste, they donate it to feed hungry people. Gleaning is picking what is left in the fields following a harvest by the farmer.
UPP also cares for growing beds in a range of community gardens and volunteers are needed to tend these produce beds and harvest as needed.
These in the field opportunities are usually in the mornings, April – November, depending on the weather.
Rescue and Recovery:
UPP partners with several area farmers markets to gather donated produce and distribute to a local agency the same day. Volunteers are needed during farmer’s market seasons to arrive at the market towards the close and check with vendors and farmers to secure donations. Many farmers may not have another market opportunity while produce is still usable so they are delighted to donate these fresh vegetables and fruits to help feed hungry community members. Most farmer’s market rescues require about two hours for gathering the produce and delivering it to an agency. These opportunities begin after Memorial Day.
For these volunteer LATER opportunities click on join our volunteer team button below or please email catherine@uppkc.org and we will contact you with more information when the calendar is open.
Help UPP lower food insecurity throughout the KC metro area.
UPP will bridge gaps in the food supply chain, partnering with local farmers and food distributors to deliver fresh, nutrient-dense produce directly to food pantries and communities in need across Missouri and Kansas. This evolution, guided by ATH’s foresight and collaborative spirit, ensures the fight against food insecurity continues stronger than ever.
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