The Society of St. Andrew has achieved an extraordinary milestone, reaching the historic mark of one billion pounds of food rescued and shared. As the largest gleaning organization in the United States, SoSA has transformed the fight against food waste and hunger through its dedicated efforts. Since its founding in 1979, this organization has grown from a small community initiative into a national powerhouse, partnering with farmers across the country to save surplus produce and deliver it to those in need. This remarkable achievement highlights the power of collective action and underscores SoSA’s unwavering commitment to alleviating food insecurity and nurturing communities nationwide.
“Since 1995, the Florida Regional office has rescued and shared over 82 million pounds of fresh produce to hungry Floridians. We are grateful to our donors, community partners, farmers, and volunteers who helped make this possible,” says Florida Regional Director Kelly Stainner.
Sharing one billion pounds of food is only possible through the deep commitment of local farmers, volunteers who glean and distribute produce, generous donors to fund the mission, and community partners who strengthen this grassroots network daily.
To celebrate this remarkable achievement, the Society of St. Andrew will host a series of events and activities in September, including gleaning opportunities and community celebrations. These events will not only honor the milestone but also inspire continued efforts to fight hunger.
As SoSA marks this milestone, the organization remains steadfast in its mission to bridge the gap between abundance and need. The next steps are clear: to rescue and share more food, nourish communities, and create caring communities by offering nourishment to neighbors in need.
About Society of St. Andrew
The Society of St. Andrew’s mission is to bring people together to harvest and share healthy food, reduce food waste, and build caring communities by offering nourishment to hungry neighbors. The Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) was founded in 1983 and is based in Big Island, VA. SoSA works with farmers to harvest unmarketable fruits and vegetables and organizes volunteers to pick, pack, and transport healthy produce to local feeding agencies such as food banks, free church pantries, shelters, and other nonprofits across the state.
The Society of St. Andrew Regional Florida office was established in 1995 to coordinate the state’s gleaning network. To get involved or learn more about SoSA’s work in Florida, visit https://endhunger.org/Florida.
