On Saturday, April 20 the Southwestern Ontario Gleaners held its annual Fundraising Banquet at the Portuguese Club. Over 365 people attended. Thanks to generous sponsorships, 95 different silent auction items, and 10 live auction items, over $100,000 was raised.

It was a fun evening that included a guest speaker from the Canadian Food for Children. This organization distributes much of the Gleaners’ soup mix in Africa and Central America.

The Southwestern Ontario Gleaners is located in Leamington. They rescue non-marketable produce like potatoes, carrots, peppers, onions and tomatoes and transform that into a dried vegetable soup mix. This mix is then distributed locally to food banks and other local charities, as well as international agencies.

The Gleaners average over 25 volunteers per day, but more is always needed. They are open for volunteers every weekday from 8am to 12/Noon.

The SWO Gleaners thanks their many supporters who contribute through produce donations, financial donations and volunteering. Because of this support, they hope to surpass 5 million servings distributed in 2024. The proceeds of the banquet go towards the operational costs of the Gleaners.

Thank you to the local businesses and individuals that all played a big part to make this fundraiser a success.

Unfortunately, millions of people go hungry everyday around the world. Locally, for many families the need for nutritious food is only increasing.

This community is full of agricultural abundance. Together, the SWO Gleaners is making a difference to combat local and world hunger.