OKANAGAN GLEANERS

Sandhill Cranes migrating south in September and so did we for one week to the Wine Capital of Canada, aka OLIVER. 

Our destination was the Okanagan Gleaners where we rolled up our sleeves, put on aprons and participated in an amazing ministry. Gleaners receives local vegetables and apples which are not fit for our fussy Canadian market and transforms these rejects into apple chip snacks and dried soup mix which get sent worldwide to feed those who are most needy during times of crisis. Millions of serving of soup mix are sent out annually and it only happens because of the generosity of the farmers and the hundreds of volunteers who show up for a day, a week, or even months to prepare the produce to be dried.

Friendships are formed as one works across from folk from all over who are at the Gleaners for the same purpose. Apples came in this day by the truckload and we cut out any bad , they were cored, put through a chopper, spread on large pans and dried for eight hours. About 830 pans of apples or veggies were processed every day.

In the early mornings I would work with a team that scraped the dried product off the pan and then into barrels where they are stored until April when the packaging will take place. Right above my work station one morning was this ceramic picture of the story of Ruth in the Bible who was given the privilege to glean the fields to meet her own food needs. As the dried produce filled my bin I often prayed for those who might receive it, a cup of soup or a little baggie of apple chips to fill starving bellies.
This little plant in Oliver processes about 5 million servings of soup annually which have been distributed to over 50 countries in the world since 1996.
What a privilege for us  to be a little part of this valuable ministry. We have already booked time there next September. 
If you are reading this post, check out:   www.okanagangleaners.com
Maybe you would like to join us. 

Mid morning coffee break was welcomed as we sat out in the sunshine and shared life with new friends. By noon we had done the required quota of pans to be dried so we retreated to our RV's parked on the Gleaners yard.

Time in the afternoons to relax, read, or go for a walk along the river in Oliver.......

Or time to drive through the beautiful hills of sage brush and vineyards. Silver Sage Winery was a lovely spot to taste some of the award winning wines from our lovely Okanagan Valley.