An Article Published in the Hunterdon County Democrat, on October 16, 2012.
Rolling Harvest Food Rescue in the New Hope-Lambertville region invites the community to its new website: RollingHarvest.org — the new website for the nonprofit organization previously known as Gas Guzzling for Good.
Their mission is simple: to connect donated fresh, locally grown and nutritious produce from farmers in the extended New Hope-Lambertville region with neighbors in need. They work efficiently and effectively to get the food to where it’s needed the most. They glean in the fields and help with the harvest. And they educate with a variety of printed nutrition information and recipe handouts at its free farmers markets located in many of the social service sites to encourage the recipients, many of them families and senior citizens, to incorporate this healthy gift into their daily diets.
Since its beginnings in 2009 with less than a handful of volunteers and a few farms, Rolling Harvest Food Rescue has delivered more than 80,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy food to local sites that help more than 12,000 people each month. Rolling Harvest has now grown to include 10 partner farms and markets and more than 20 distribution sites, including food pantries, soup kitchens, domestic violence and homeless shelters and low-income senior housing. To ensure freshness, the produce is usually delivered directly from farm to families within just a few hours.
There are many local farmers and grocers who want to share their excess farm fresh vegetables and fruits with neighbors in need, but lack the time and staff it would take to ensure effective distribution. And that’s where Rolling Harvest steps in. They collect from these farms and markets at their convenience and according to their own schedules.
Along with the founder and director, Cathy Snyder, more than 30 volunteers contribute their time and talents in carrying out this service during the harvest months from May through December. There is never a charge to the sites for deliveries or a pick-up fee to the generous farmers and grocers who give.
More than 25% of the people they help are children, and more than 12% are low-income, struggling seniors. With Rolling Harvest, they now have access to quality, locally grown, fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables in their daily diet.
The face of hunger in our area is changing. Many are underemployed, recently laid off, disabled or struggling with home foreclosures or even homelessness. Rolling Harvest Food Rescue is committed to helping its partner sites provide better and healthier food choices for them and their families.
