An inter-generational Youth with a Mission Project -YWAM
located in the Central Valley of California
Imagine visiting an orphanage in Romania. It is winter and very cold. The orphanage building is full; a large steel shipping container is being used as an emergency dormitory for the children. One morning, despite the small heater, the orphanage workers found icicles hanging inside the container – and a small toddler who had frozen to death. Gleanings staff experienced this first hand while delivering a large ocean shipping container of food and blankets to this orphanage.
Imagine being displaced by a natural disaster – you and your family are living in a disaster shelter with hundreds of other refugees with little but the clothes on your backs. Just imagine being given a brand new quilt and finding nutritious and delicious soups available to eat.
Gleanings for the Hungry, located in Dinuba, CA (near Visalia), has a vision to feed the hungry of the world and to introduce them to the Bread of Life. Gleanings staff are faith missionaries, raising their own support. Volunteers of all ages are welcomed to help in the sun-drying of tons of donated fresh peaches and nectarines in the summer. In the fall, winter and spring, volunteers are able to package a nutritious vegetable soup mix, produce a dried fruit and almond trail mix, and to repackage other donated food items for use by missionaries working under difficult circumstances in over 42 nations world-wide. Opportunities to provide maintenance of equipment and buildings and construction are also available.
Quiltmakers are welcomed to make simple, warm quilts for those in need.
Gleanings provides good motel-like accommodations (no cots or sleeping bags!) and three great meals per day. RV facilities available. A $10 per day per person donation is requested. Gleanings uniquely “connects” the volunteers with those receiving the food and other supplies. The morning worship includes a time of connecting with guest speakers, videos, and staff reports. Retired persons and home school groups are especially welcomed in the non-fruit season months; junior and senior high youth groups are needed June – August. You can volunteer a week, a few days, or a few months. Long-term volunteers also needed, especially a cook.
Gleanings is one of “the best” first time mission experience available – no passports, no language challenges; no immunizations, no tourist two-step. It’s a 5 hour drive; also AMTRAK accessible. There is meaningful work for persons of all ages and abilities; naps are permitted, if needed! An exciting video is available for your review.
Stepping forward:
Dates for upcoming mission trips are:
*October 21 – 26;
*October 28 – Nov. 2;
*March 9 – 14, 2008
SBPC contact:
Pat Kellenbarger 760-231-0609
Dick & Ginny Parrish 760-433-6443
Gleanings contact: Rick Wagner, director
PH: 559-591-5009; www.gleanings.org