Perishable Food Recovery (Gleaners Program)
Often the solution to a problem seems so obvious that it elicits a question
such as, "Why didn't I think of that?" CAC Gleaners is a perfect
example of one of those solutions. Since its inception in 1992, CAC Gleaners,
originally known as Wisconsin Harvest, has safely recovered perfectly good
food from grocers, restaurants, bakeries, and caterers. This food would have otherwise gone to waste in landfills. CAC Gleaners distributes collected food to
people in need through shelters, community centers, food pantries, senior
centers, soup kitchens, and low-income apartment complexes at no cost.
CAC Gleaners distributes over 1 million pounds of useable food that otherwise
would have been thrown away to approximately 100 distribution sites throughout our service
area. These donations allow agencies to significantly reduce their food budgets and reallocate money to improve
and expand existing programs.
How we do it.
Through a network of over 60 dedicated volunteers
and over 100 donors,
CAC Gleaners collects and distributes approximately 1 million pounds of food
per year to food distribution sites on regularly scheduled distribution routes.
CAC coordinates routes with donors and recipient agencies and matches volunteer
drivers to those routes. Click here to
volunteer.
Why we do it.
We believe no good source of food should go to waste, and
no person should go hungry tonight.
Food Safety Curriculum
For food-handling guidelines, packaging instructions, and other
pertinent information from our food-safety course, please click on this
link: Safe Food Recovery Manual.
Receiving food from CAC Gleaners is easy!
Recipient organizations must serve primarily low-income individuals and
be 501c3 or government agencies. You must also:
- Receive food safety training.
- Designate a staff person to oversee the donations.
- Meet food safety standards.
- Inspect food upon delivery and discard damaged or unfit items.
- Accept all delivered food unless other arrangements have been made.
Contact Us
CAC's Food Security Program works with pantries throughout Dane, Jefferson,
and Waukesha Counties. To learn more about CAC Gleaners or the Food Security Division, contact Clayton Matthews, Gleaners Program Coordinator at (608)246-4730 x 207 or .
Get Involved
Volunteer for Gleaners Program
