In 2024, 19,000 volunteers contributed their valuable time to DC Central Kitchen. While the vast majority spent this time with us at the Klein Center for Jobs & Justice, a few hundred took to the fields at local farms for a gleaning shift.
Every year during the growing season from May through November, DCCK staff and volunteers pick fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise not be harvested or sold. This produce is then incorporated into the thousands of healthy, nutritious, scratch-cooked meals we make every single day for our community.
If you’re looking to volunteer in the bright and shining sun while preventing food waste, gleaning may be perfect for you! All you need to glean with us is a willingness to get in the dirt. No experience is required. Each farm has a different age restriction, with some allowing all ages of volunteers, as long as parental supervision is present.
Don’t wait to sign up! A few of our gleaning trips throughout the season are already at capacity with others filling up fast. You can find the full 2025 gleaning schedule here.