Cooperative Model
Our Community Cooperative
Members of our programs contribute a minimum of 3.5 hours/month of volunteer time to the organization. Most members also contribute a shared nominal donation to the organization that covers rent and utility costs. The cooperative model empowers a community-led system fueled by active participation and for some, it plays a vital role in bridging disparate gaps in the journey from a food bank participant to a grocery store consumer (note: migrant farmworker members are excused from contributing a nominal donation due to historical gaps in agriculture wages).
The Market
We rescue products such as produce, baked goods, nonperishable foods, and housewares from retailers, restaurants, local farms, and individuals that otherwise would be discarded and end up in landfills. Our members are able to shop in our market up to 3 times a week. With each market shop, families typically receive up to 40 lbs of groceries.
Gratitude Galleria
In addition to food, Skagit Gleaners also rescues and redistributes clothing and houseware items to our community, keeping these items out of overflowing landfills. This program is called the Gratitude Galleria and is included with a membership at Skagit Gleaners. Members can shop in the Gratitude Galleria an unlimited amount of times a week.
Community
Our diverse members come from all walks of life, working together to ensure our market, office, and Galleria are open for daily shops. Our volunteerism model not only helps us keep our overhead costs low, but connects a large group of local people who might not otherwise meet. Members often say they come for the food, but stay for the friendships and families they meet!
Farm Gleaning
We work with local farms all over Skagit County that know the importance of reducing food waste. When they’ve done their harvest they call us to come collect what’s left over or to harvest the second yielding. What’s harvested at these farm gleans is taken back to our market to share with all of our members.
Backyard gleans
As part of our food recovery efforts, we also pick produce from residential properties throughout the county. Backyard gleans are a great way to add more varieties of produce to our market and are a great learning opportunity for families with kids to be engaged in food waste reduction efforts
Gleaning Practices
Food and products are obtained through gleaning efforts before it is made available to our participants. This practice diverts several million pounds of surplus foods and goods from entering landfill and directly provides an environmentally sustainable alternative to food waste. We glean from the following sources:
Farms and backyards (hand-harvest gleaning)
Grocery Stores
Restaurants
Distributors/Manufacturers
Thrift Stores
Garage Sales
Skagit Gleaners also accepts community donations that you no longer have a use for.
Click here to learn more about donating your items to our agency.