by Mohammadjon Mamatkulov | Feb 27, 2025 | Gleanings Stories
OUR PARTNER MINISTRY FEEDING THE HUNGRY AND SHARING THE LOVE OF GOD
Blessings of Hope is a nonprofit organization in Leola, Pennsylvania that partners with Gleanings to send surplus food to hungry people. A sign on their wall states: “Food is our tool. Helping people experience God is our goal.”
Gleanings first connected with Blessings of Hope in 2023. “We had so many truckloads of pasta donated all at once,” Warehouse Manager Jesse Correll said. “Sometimes we are offered more than we need. We love to share those excess donations with other food ministries.” Andy Rotunno, director of distribution, reached out to Blessings of Hope, and they eagerly accepted several truckloads of pasta. Taking the 1,000-pound boxes of noodles, volunteers at Blessings repackaged it into smaller bags to give out to ministry partners.
Jesse and Elisabeth Correll visited Blessings of Hope in January 2025. While touring the facility, they learned that an estimated 80 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States per year. Blessings accepts surplus food from supermarkets, farmers and distribution centers who would otherwise throw the excess food away. “A lot of food banks can’t accept food in bulk,” said founder, Aaron Fisher. “We use volunteers to help package food into smaller quantities that churches can handle.”
Blessings of Hope is now working with Barnabas Aid, (another Gleanings’ Partner) to dehydrate fresh vegetables and create a nine-ingredient soup mix. Through trial and error, employees at Blessings have been learning how to dehydrate zucchini, peppers, sweet potatoes, kale, and more. Some of this soup mix has gone to Cuba, Haiti, and Guatemala—places where people are desperate for food.
The similarities between Gleanings and Blessings are many. Both Gleanings’ founder, Wally Wenge, and Blessings’ Founder, Aaron Fisher, saw a need and saw food waste. They innovated to redirect the goods to hungry people. This is the heart of Jesus, calling His disciples to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in a variety of ways. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” James 2:14-16. Thank you, Blessings of Hope, for sharing our vision: sharing the love of God through the gift of food.
by Mohammadjon Mamatkulov | May 18, 2024 | Gleanings Stories
Seventeen years ago, Bob and Laverne Pringle had dreams to travel in a motorhome as snowbirds, winter visitors, to California and Arizona. In 2007 they made the purchase, and left the cold climate of Langley, BC Canada. With the desire to serve with a purpose in a Christian setting, God brought them to Gleanings where they were inspired immediately by the sincere fellowship of other Christians.
During daily chapel, their faith deepened with expanded belief and trust in the Lord. An encouraging YWAM staff gifted them with a plaque with scripture from Joshua 24: “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” The couple has returned to Gleanings 30 times in the winter months as well spring months.
Bob is privileged to be involved in the Gleanings mercy ministry dried soup mix productivity. He regularly operates a forklift and puts in order the soup plant and warehouse. Laverne participates by assisting in hospitality during weekly Love Feast dinners and special events. She embraces flower gardening on the grounds and seeks opportunities in the laundry and housekeeping departments.
Bob and Laverne value fellowshipping with others of all ages from the wee little ones of YWAM to seniors. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, his love endures forever.”
We are so grateful for faithful Mission Builders like Bob, Laverne, and many others who make this ministry beautiful picture of the Body of Christ. Thank you, Mission Builders! many others who make this ministry a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ. Thank you, Mission Builders!
by Mohammadjon Mamatkulov | Nov 6, 2023 | Gleanings Stories
Ron Wagner (former Gleanings staff member, 1997-2007) invited Fritz Meier and Andy Rotunno to fly up to Saskatchewan, Canada and visit the farmers who donate peas and lentils to the Gleanings soup mix production. Each of us went separately for ten days, Fritz in June and Andy in July. What a privilege to meet so many of our donating farmers face to face. As we drove around the beautiful golden province, we realized that we are not merely individuals working for charitable business connections, but we are communities collaborating together to save lives in the name of Jesus. What an encouragement it was to see how expansive the Body of Christ is, and how the Lord has brought us together from across the nations to bring the hope of Christ to so many.
First we visited Hutterite colony farms. These unique communities are so family-oriented, hard-working, hospitable, and generous. Their leaders agree to give truckloads of product to Gleanings each year. When we were there, they invited us into their homes for coffee or a farm fresh meal. They gave us extensive tours of kitchens, vast gardens, shops, and new construction sites. Once we were invited to stay overnight in the colony and spend the evening singing praise and worship together with families. It was such a blessed time, and we were so excited to invite them to come visit Gleanings one day.
We also visited one of our main grain processing partners, Simpson Seeds. We met with their administrative team and shared stories about the impact of the lentils. Jordan, the general manager, said that Gleanings is a perfect fit because we are aligned with the company’s core values. Mr. Simpson shared that Gleanings is a missional extension of Simpson Seeds’ vision, which is to “nourish the world.” It was easy to see that Simpson Seeds is not just a business, but a community. They have processed millions of pounds of lentils on Gleanings’ behalf.
Finally, we visited a small church in a tiny town, invited by good friends (and donating farmers) Kent and Darla Pierce. During the service, Andy shared about children whose lives were saved because of the Gleanings food—peas and lentils grown in their fields. They asked us to stay for an additional question-and-answer time. Farmers in the church promised to give truckload volumes to Gleanings no matter what the coming harvest looks like.
From the rural fields of Saskatchewan to the small town of Dinuba and the many remote nations of the world where Gleanings food is served on a daily basis, communities that love Jesus are committed to feed the needy of the world physically and spiritually. We are one in Christ.
by Mohammadjon Mamatkulov | Oct 10, 2023 | Gleanings Stories
“We have a dream to make our own soup mix right here in Colombia!” It was October 2019 in a small
upstairs office in Bogota, Colombia. Fritz Meier and Andy Rotunno sat listening to Julian Camargo
share a vision for the future. “Yes, we want to import containers of Gleanings soup mix to
minister to Venezuelan migrant families, as well as the needy people of Colombia,” Julian continued.
“We also believe that we, the Colombian church, can work together to rescue wasted food in
Colombia and make a healthy soup mix here, to help us share the love of Christ.” Read more
by Mohammadjon Mamatkulov | Sep 19, 2023 | Gleanings Stories
The wait is almost over as our Called + Equipped DTS (Discipleship Training School) students are already arriving! Get ready for an incredible season of growth, transformation, and God’s mighty movement! We’re filled with anticipation as we eagerly await the arrival of these passionate individuals who are ready to embark on a life-changing journey. Together, we’ll dive deeper into faith, learn about our God given purpose, and witness the power of God’s love in action. Stay tuned as we share stories of testimonies, adventures, and the incredible ways God moves through our DTS students!
by Souper | Jul 7, 2023 | Gleanings Stories
I had the privilege to travel to Nicaragua last month. Since the COVID pandemic began I have not
visited any Gleaning’s partners, so I was excited to once again be with the people who use our food.
Nicaragua is a beautiful country with many poverty issues. The two organizations we visited provide
food for over 150,000 children in their feeding programs. We saw our peaches and soup mix at every
place we visited. I felt the Lord speak to me about going as a servant. If every glass of water given to
a poor person is given as unto Jesus, then I work for these people because I live to serve Jesus. Instead
of coming as the person who donates food, I related to people as someone who loves them and is
committed to making their lives better in any way I can. It was a precious time. The Lord connected me
to some beautiful people in a deep way. – Fritz Meier
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