Gleaners spread the word

The first annual Okanagan Gleaners fall fair took place on Saturday at the society’s property in Oliver.

"I see a lot of familiar faces, volunteers, present and past," said Diane Knight, a volunteer for the non-profit organization. "But I see a lot of new faces too and I see a lot of families coming."

Saturday's fair featured food, live music and kids activities.

But a regular day for the organization sees food prepared and sent off to areas in need.

"(We) utilize surplus produce and fruit from the farmers in the area, and we dehydrate it and turn it into a soup mix, which various humanitarian organizations take around the world."

Knight said since the Gleaners' inception more than 20 years ago, soup mix from the group has been given out to about 60 countries.

The Gleaners' general manager, Greg Masson, said in their first year, about 100,000 meals worth of food was delivered to countries in need.

In 2017 so far, he said 6.2 million meals have been donated.

The Gleaners started with their Oliver location in 1996, and now have eight locations in Canada with, a ninth on the way.

Knight estimated that a few hundred different volunteers help out annually, but said there is always a need for more.

"(The fair) is an invitation to come down and see who we are and what we do, and maybe they'd like to become involved."