Volunteer Opportunities Week 4/11/25 - 04/17/25

  Reminders:

1. You are limited to 2 check in or out shifts per month.

2. You are not allowed to sign up for check in / out back to back.

3. Everyone must sign up to volunteer via the sign up genius unless pre-authorized by the Volunteer Coordinator, Anna (541-600-7451 or gleaners.volunteer@philomathcommunityservices.org) OR, Jennie on Saturday and Michelle on Monday.

4. Volunteers need to be on time or 5 minutes early. If you can't show up on time, please find another time to volunteer. Other volunteers have a schedule and we count on everyone being on time to keep the day moving.

 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-56153328-volunteer

Urgent: Shifts need covered tomorrow, Monday

We are in need of coverage for four shifts so that Monday distribution/shopping runs smoothy:

1. Floater (2nd) 9 AM -12
2. Floater (3rd) 9 AM -12
3. Check-in and CLEANUP (Shop at 2:25 pm) 3 PM-5
4. Clean up only- No Shopping 4PM -5PM

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-56008650-volunteer#/

Shopping Signup for April 5th and 7th

 

 Saturday list -     Saturday shopping slots have been adjusted for a later start time!  if you are prescheduled, you need to check your new shopping time.

•     Saturday - Please text Jenni M if you need a spot after 6pm Friday

Monday List -

• Monday - Please text Michelle Finley if you need a spot after 6pm Sunday

Sign up rule: If your time slot is full, please sign up for a later time slot in the day and add a NOTE that says (time slot full). You can also sign up for cleanup shift if the space is open. If all the slots are full after (and cleanup is full), then you can contact Jennie M for Saturday or Michelle Finley for Monday to get a slot prior to your name slot. We try hard to keep folks in their last name slot for fairness. Also, we do sometimes have to add slots before the shop time or double up in order to make sure every family has an opportunity to shop.

Failure to follow these directions may result in  your name being taken off and you will need to re-schedule. Please keep your personal calendar open for shopping and do not plan events around shopping time if you plan to shop and ask for us to re-schedule you. There are 2 opportunities (days) for you to shop. There are times for many reason we may ask to move you. Please be mindful we are coordinating over 150 families and just over 450 individuals. 

There are also slots for our volunteers to shop mid shopping to make the day smoother and allow for our volunteers to shop the same day. Some of the names will NOT be in the correct space because they are volunteering and pre-scheduled weekly for the slot. If you have suggestions to make this program better, we welcome them. 

Please be mindful that you click the proper day below-I made the title link easier (Click the day of the week to get to the sign up).  Please be mindful of signing up that you will actually shop. If you shop on Saturday and skip, do not call with notice, etc you will not be allowed to shop on Monday. 

Lastly, Please remember that there it is imperative to keep the shopping schedule accurate, we need shoppers to get through the shopping line without having side conversations. This is to keep the check-ins on-time and the carts in constant rotation.   

Volunteer Opportunities Week 4/4/25 - 04/10/25

 Reminders:

1. You are limited to 2 check in or out shifts per month.

2. You are not allowed to sign up for check in / out back to back.

3. Everyone must sign up to volunteer via the sign up genius unless pre-authorized by the Volunteer Coordinator, Anna (541-600-7451 or gleaners.volunteer@philomathcommunityservices.org) OR, Jennie on Saturday and Michelle on Monday.

4. Volunteers need to be on time or 5 minutes early. If you can't show up on time, please find another time to volunteer. Other volunteers have a schedule and we count on everyone being on time to keep the day moving.

 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-56008650-volunteer#/

Meeting Notes: PCS Gleaner Leadership and Driver Meeting

Meeting Notes: PCS Gleaner Leadership and Driver Meeting

ServeSafe Exam- We would really like for as many of our members to be ServeSafe certified. If you have your food handlers card, we would love a copy of that for our records. Log the amount of volunteer hours for training and test taking.

1. Click here for link to open the Food Safety Video -Follow the instructions below with putting in the Oregon Food Bank and the video key and watch the video. 

2.  You will now print out the test (I you need help printing, ask a lead at PCS: Print this test out

3. Put your name at the top and turn it in to a lead at PCS. 

Civil Right Video (approximately 22 minutes) : Every member of the Gleaners needs to complete this once per year. If you are new in the past two months, please complete this and sign up for 30 minutes of volunteer time while completing it. 

1. Watch the Civil Rights Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv1caqODzzA&t=6s  

2. Once you have watched the video, CLICK HERE TO SIGN that you watched the video 

OPEN LETTER TO VOLUNTEERS WHO PICK UP DONATIONS:

Your role as a market pickup volunteer is extremely important to your gleaning group and to the Linn Benton Gleaning Program. Whether your group has a membership of 75 people or 1,000 people, you are helping to supplement the food budget of over 3,500 individuals!

People who donate to our program want to make sure that the food that they donate reach individuals who need it. They care about their community and their neighbors and they are active participants in the war against hunger. These businesses have decided that they want to participate in donating product to Linn Benton Food Share's Gleaning Program.

In many cases, it would be easier for our donors to dispose of the left over food items using other methods besides donating to our program. Not only do they donate the food, they are also donating the time that it takes to prepare the donation for you to pick up.

Of course, we are not the main focus of these businesses, employees: suppliers, customers, timelines, scheduling conflicts and a myriad of other concerns relating to THEIR BUSINESS should and does take precedence over what and how they donate to us. It is important that everyone in our program realizes that the businesses do not have supply us with food. We are benefiting from the business because they CHOOSE to donate to us.

We appreciate your diligence in maintaining a positive relationship with our donors.

Please feel free to contact me at sjames@communityservices.us with any questions or concerns. 

LINN BENTON FOOD SHARE GLEANING PROGRAM\

Procedures for picking up food donations

1. Vehicle Liability Insurance is required to pick up at all stores, LBFS warehouse, and all gleans. May be asked to show current liability insurance certificate

2. Lead person in each vehicle must have either an Oregon Food Handlers card or a Servsafe certificate on file

3. Drivers and helpers must be trained and vetted by Board/Coordinator before going on store runs.

4. Vehicles must be clean and in good running condition

5. Pick up donations at time requested by donor

6. If you cannot pick up a store run on your scheduled day, let your Coordinator/Board/ LBFS know immediately.

7. Never pick up food donations while under influence of drugs or alcohol

8. Dress appropriately, good hygiene -remember you are representing your group,

the program and Linn Benton Food Share

9. Wear badge stating name, group, and LBFS if requested by donor, agencies, or LBFS

10. Refrain from using vulgar language

11. Pick up the entire donation or call coordinator/ LBFS immediately to make further arrangements.

12. Do not take items not donated.

13. Sign in as requested before picking up donation

14. Go directly to where donation is kept

15. Never ask for additional items

16. Not complain about food donation

17. Do not go through donation while in store

18. Never bring additional people into store to "help" unless approved by Coordinator/Board

19. Do not combine gleaner pickup with personal shopping

20. Check with receiving clerk that you have correct product

21. Sign for donation

22. Do not loiter in store

23. Be responsible for assuring all donated food is picked up Updated 3/25/2025

24. Do not eat or drink while picking up food

25. Do not smoke in vehicle while picking up food

26. Do not have animals in vehicle while transporting food

27. Do not smoke on donors property

28. Do not engage in arguments with other gleaning group members on donor's site

29. Obey all laws

30. Conduct self in professional manner at all times

31. Transport food donations in safe and healthy manner

32. Take food directly to food distribution site

33. Al donations must be weighed or counted and recorded immediately

34. Must record temperature of all cooler and frozen food both at pick up site anddistribution site

Not following procedures may result in immediate removal from all Linn Benton Food Share store pickups

ORIENTATION

Many groups hold orientations for new members. This is the perfect time to talk about your mission, rules, and expectations. Orientation reinforces the gleaning group concept, "we are a self-help organization, not a food pantry. If you do not want to participate, please visit the food pantry in your area. Be advised that members are required to participate in gleans". Training only two or three people to be responsible for conducting the orientation will help to ensure that everyone is receiving correct information. Do not allow people who are not trained to sign up new members. Here are suggestions to include in your orientation: Give a brief summary on the gleaning group and its relationship with Linn Benton Food Share.Stress the importance of your mission and vision. This is the time to explain the difference between going to a food pantry and joining a gleaning group. Explain your policies regarding food pick up, household size, and volunteer requirements. Inform prospective members that everyone is a volunteer -no paid staff. Let prospective members know what they can expect from the group's leaders and what the expectation are for them. Allow plenty of time for questions.

PRODUCT DONATION PROCESS 

 

Urgent: Shifts Need Covered Today and Tomorrow

We have a few open shifts that need to be filled today and tomorrow. There are plenty of people who still need to get some hours in before the end of the month. So please sign up!
 Today, Friday,  we have 2 spots available stocking shelves from 11-1, we have a spot available for unloading products from 1-2 (however we don't have a warehouse delivery today so if we could get someone that can be here at 11 that would be great. And we also need someone to fill adoptee boxes the time states from 1-2 however you can be here early.

 Saturday we need a dishwasher.  From 8:30-11:30

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-55925328-volunteer#/

Shopping Sign up for March 29th and 31st

 Saturday list -     Saturday shopping slots have been adjusted for a later start time!  if you are prescheduled, you need to check your new shopping time.

•     Saturday - Please text Jenni M if you need a spot after 6pm Friday

Monday List -

• Monday - Please text Michelle Finley if you need a spot after 6pm Sunday

Sign up rule: If your time slot is full, please sign up for a later time slot in the day and add a NOTE that says (time slot full). You can also sign up for cleanup shift if the space is open. If all the slots are full after (and cleanup is full), then you can contact Jennie M for Saturday or Michelle Finley for Monday to get a slot prior to your name slot. We try hard to keep folks in their last name slot for fairness. Also, we do sometimes have to add slots before the shop time or double up in order to make sure every family has an opportunity to shop.

Failure to follow these directions may result in  your name being taken off and you will need to re-schedule. Please keep your personal calendar open for shopping and do not plan events around shopping time if you plan to shop and ask for us to re-schedule you. There are 2 opportunities (days) for you to shop. There are times for many reason we may ask to move you. Please be mindful we are coordinating over 150 families and just over 450 individuals. 

There are also slots for our volunteers to shop mid shopping to make the day smoother and allow for our volunteers to shop the same day. Some of the names will NOT be in the correct space because they are volunteering and pre-scheduled weekly for the slot. If you have suggestions to make this program better, we welcome them. 

Please be mindful that you click the proper day below-I made the title link easier (Click the day of the week to get to the sign up).  Please be mindful of signing up that you will actually shop. If you shop on Saturday and skip, do not call with notice, etc you will not be allowed to shop on Monday. 

Lastly, Please remember that there it is imperative to keep the shopping schedule accurate, we need shoppers to get through the shopping line without having side conversations. This is to keep the check-ins on-time and the carts in constant rotation.   

Volunteer Opportunities Week 3/28/25 - 04/03/25

**Please make sure your volunteer hours are logged for the month of March via the app (Civic Champs) OR the clipboard on the check-out desk before the last day of the month (Friday) **

Reminders:

1. You are limited to 2 check in or out shifts per month.

2. You are not allowed to sign up for check in / out back to back.

3. Everyone must sign up to volunteer via the sign up genius unless pre-authorized by the Volunteer Coordinator, Anna (541-600-7451 or gleaners.volunteer@philomathcommunityservices.org) OR, Jennie on Saturday and Michelle on Monday.

4. Volunteers need to be on time or 5 minutes early. If you can't show up on time, please find another time to volunteer. Other volunteers have a schedule and we count on everyone being on time to keep the day moving.

 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-55925328-volunteer#/

Attention: Monday Shopping Update

Attention: Monday shoppers- Shopping Update

Monday shoppers, please note! Our shopping sign up for Monday March 24 has been reposted today.  If you signed up to shop BEFORE this posted shopping update (3/22), it was not recorded (due to technical issues).  In order to shop Monday you MUST sign up on this updated form and use that updated time to shop.  Sorry any and all inconveniences this may cause.

If you shop Monday, please sign up here:

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-55837571-monday#/

Shopping Signup for March 22nd and 24th

Saturday list -     **We are changing the time shopping starts on Saturday to NOON. We have a delivery from Safeway that they've pushed back our pick-up on Saturday morning and need to push the start time for shopping from 11:30 to 12:00*

Saturday - Please text Jenni M if you need a spot after 6pm Friday

Monday List -

• Monday - Please text Michelle Finley if you need a spot after 6pm Sunday

Sign up rule: If your time slot is full, please sign up for a later time slot in the day and add a NOTE that says (time slot full). You can also sign up for cleanup shift if the space is open. If all the slots are full after (and cleanup is full), then you can contact Jennie M for Saturday or Michelle Finley for Monday to get a slot prior to your name slot. We try hard to keep folks in their last name slot for fairness. Also, we do sometimes have to add slots before the shop time or double up in order to make sure every family has an opportunity to shop.

Failure to follow these directions may result in  your name being taken off and you will need to re-schedule. Please keep your personal calendar open for shopping and do not plan events around shopping time if you plan to shop and ask for us to re-schedule you. There are 2 opportunities (days) for you to shop. There are times for many reason we may ask to move you. Please be mindful we are coordinating over 150 families and just over 450 individuals. 

There are also slots for our volunteers to shop mid shopping to make the day smoother and allow for our volunteers to shop the same day. Some of the names will NOT be in the correct space because they are volunteering and pre-scheduled weekly for the slot. If you have suggestions to make this program better, we welcome them. 

Please be mindful that you click the proper day below-I made the title link easier (Click the day of the week to get to the sign up).  Please be mindful of signing up that you will actually shop. If you shop on Saturday and skip, do not call with notice, etc you will not be allowed to shop on Monday. 

Lastly, Please remember that there it is imperative to keep the shopping schedule accurate, we need shoppers to get through the shopping line without having side conversations. This is to keep the check-ins on-time and the carts in constant rotation.   

PCS Gleaner Leadership and Driver Meeting Date Change

 PCS Gleaner Leadership and Driver Meeting Date Change!!!

 

Susan James of LBFS has changed the meeting for the PCS Gleaners Leadership and Drivers Meeting 

 

It is next Tuesday, March 25: 

9am-12 Noon at CSC-Corvallis 

Address: 1121 NW 9th St., Corvallis. 

(Next to the Old Shari's, same parking lot.)

 

*All Drivers Should Attend in order todo any Gleaner Pickups Moving Forward*

Volunteer Opportunities Week 3/21/25 - 03/27/25

   REMINDERS: 

1. You are limited to 2 check in or out shifts per month.

2. You are not allowed to sign up for check in / out back to back.

3. Everyone must sign up to volunteer via the sign up genius unless pre-authorized by the Volunteer Coordinator, Anna (541-600-7451 or gleaners.volunteer@philomathcommunityservices.org) OR, Jennie on Saturday and Michelle on Monday.

4. Volunteers need to be on time or 5 minutes early. If you can't show up on time, please find another time to volunteer. Other volunteers have a schedule and we count on everyone being on time to keep the day moving.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-55796151-volunteer#/

Drawing: sign up by Thursday at 10 AM

 DRAWING: 

**Only One submitted entry per Household is allowed.  If you enter more than one time and win anything you will be given only one item which will be from your first entry. A second offense will cause the offender to be disqualified from the drawing and not permitted to enter into the next drawing. 

It’s about fairness folks. One submitted entry per household is all that’s permitted.

Thank you all for your fairness and kindness.

**PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT WRITE "YOUR NAME + Day you are shopping", YOU WILL NOT WIN. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME IN EACH ENTRY**

Please sign up by Thursday, March 20. You MUST plan on shopping either March 22 (Saturday) or March 24 (Monday). We will not tell you if you won or not as that is a lot of emails, etc. If you are not in town or do not plan to be shopping, then do NOT sign up. Any items not picked up by Monday shopping will be put back into the drawing for the next drawing. We do not save items unless we forget your items or we miss it on our end.

If you sign up and skip shopping or don't let us know, you will not be able to enter into the next drawing.

You can enter for ONLY 3 items. 

Example:
First Last Name - 1S (Add day of week HERE "M for Monday or "S" for Saturday)
First Last Name - 2M (Add day of week HERE "M for Monday or "S" for Saturday)

First Last Name - 3M (Add day of week HERE "M for Monday or "S" for Saturday)

Adding the day of the week after your name will help us with sorting and "hopefully" save us some time. 

You may enter more than once for an item. Understand that you will only win one of the item, but you may put your "tickets" in the same drawing if desired.  

Example: You really want a box of chocolates so you  use two (of your three entries) and enter 1S & 2S in the chocolate category. (Upping your chances for winning that item)  You might use your 3S entry for a different item. 

**PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT WRITE "YOUR NAME + a letter for the day you are shopping", YOU WILL NOT WIN. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME IN EACH ENTRY**

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdaeq0O7bO01JmPlsvXAQw6KeILiG63attxrwfiq4LqdarpiA/viewform?usp=dialog

Urgent: Shifts Need Coverage at PCS Tomorrow

 PCS Gleaners, our Monday Lead Michelle Finley has brought to our attention that we need coverage tomorrow.

4 Shifts that need covered:

1. dishwasher
2. a floater
3. check in 1-3pm (shop at 3:15)
4. checkin & clean up 3-5 pm (shop at 2:30)

Sign up here:

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-55672418-volunteer

Shopping Sign up for March 15th and 17th

  Saturday list -     **We are changing the time shopping starts on Saturday to NOON. We have a delivery from Safeway that they've pushed back our pick-up on Saturday morning and need to push the start time for shopping from 11:30 to 12:00** (Next weeks signup will reflect this)

Saturday - Please text Jenni M if you need a spot after 6pm Friday

Monday List -

• Monday - Please text Michelle Finley if you need a spot after 6pm Sunday

Sign up rule: If your time slot is full, please sign up for a later time slot in the day and add a NOTE that says (time slot full). You can also sign up for cleanup shift if the space is open. If all the slots are full after (and cleanup is full), then you can contact Jennie M for Saturday or Michelle Finley for Monday to get a slot prior to your name slot. We try hard to keep folks in their last name slot for fairness. Also, we do sometimes have to add slots before the shop time or double up in order to make sure every family has an opportunity to shop.

Failure to follow these directions may result in  your name being taken off and you will need to re-schedule. Please keep your personal calendar open for shopping and do not plan events around shopping time if you plan to shop and ask for us to re-schedule you. There are 2 opportunities (days) for you to shop. There are times for many reason we may ask to move you. Please be mindful we are coordinating over 150 families and just over 450 individuals. 

There are also slots for our volunteers to shop mid shopping to make the day smoother and allow for our volunteers to shop the same day. Some of the names will NOT be in the correct space because they are volunteering and pre-scheduled weekly for the slot. If you have suggestions to make this program better, we welcome them. 

Please be mindful that you click the proper day below-I made the title link easier (Click the day of the week to get to the sign up).  Please be mindful of signing up that you will actually shop. If you shop on Saturday and skip, do not call with notice, etc you will not be allowed to shop on Monday. 

Lastly, Please remember that there it is imperative to keep the shopping schedule accurate, we need shoppers to get through the shopping line without having side conversations. This is to keep the check-ins on-time and the carts in constant rotation.  

Volunteer Opportunities Week 3/14/25 - 03/20/25

  REMINDERS: 

1. You are limited to 2 check in or out shifts per month.

2. You are not allowed to sign up for check in / out back to back.

3. Everyone must sign up to volunteer via the sign up genius unless pre-authorized by the Volunteer Coordinator, Anna (541-600-7451 or gleaners.volunteer@philomathcommunityservices.org) OR, Jennie on Saturday and Michelle on Monday.

4. Volunteers need to be on time or 5 minutes early. If you can't show up on time, please find another time to volunteer. Other volunteers have a schedule and we count on everyone being on time to keep the day moving.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-55672418-volunteer#/

Urgent: Shifts need coverage at PCS Monday

PCS Gleaners, our Monday Lead Michelle Finley has brought to our attention that we need coverage on Monday, big time. 

7 Shifts that need covered Monday:

• Dishwasher 9:00 -12:00
• Floater 1 9:00 -12:00
• Floater 2 9:00 -12:00
• Floater 3 9:00 -12:00
• Check-out Person 11:30-1:00
• Check-out Person 1:00-3:00
• Clean-up 4:00-5:00

Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054EA8A72EA2F58-55503110-volunteer#/

Shopping Sign up for March 8th and 10th

  Saturday list -

• Saturday - Please text Jenni M if you need a spot after 9pm Friday

Monday List -

• Monday - Please text Michelle Finley if you need a spot after 9pm Sunday

Sign up rule: If your time slot is full, please sign up for a later time slot in the day and add a NOTE that says (time slot full). You can also sign up for cleanup shift if the space is open. If all the slots are full after (and cleanup is full), then you can contact Jennie M for Saturday or Michelle Finley for Monday to get a slot prior to your name slot. We try hard to keep folks in their last name slot for fairness. Also, we do sometimes have to add slots before the shop time or double up in order to make sure every family has an opportunity to shop.

Failure to follow these directions may result in  your name being taken off and you will need to re-schedule. Please keep your personal calendar open for shopping and do not plan events around shopping time if you plan to shop and ask for us to re-schedule you. There are 2 opportunities (days) for you to shop. There are times for many reason we may ask to move you. Please be mindful we are coordinating over 150 families and just over 450 individuals. 

There are also slots for our volunteers to shop mid shopping to make the day smoother and allow for our volunteers to shop the same day. Some of the names will NOT be in the correct space because they are volunteering and pre-scheduled weekly for the slot. If you have suggestions to make this program better, we welcome them. 

Please be mindful that you click the proper day below-I made the title link easier (Click the day of the week to get to the sign up).  Please be mindful of signing up that you will actually shop. If you shop on Saturday and skip, do not call with notice, etc you will not be allowed to shop on Monday. 

Lastly, Please remember that there it is imperative to keep the shopping schedule accurate, we need shoppers to get through the shopping line without having side conversations. This is to keep the check-ins on-time and the carts in constant rotation.  

Meeting Minutes and Financial Activity Report

Meeting Minutes and Financial Activity Report

Thank you very much for participating in the listening and information session on Wednesday, 2/26/2025.  Getting together with the PCS Board of Directors has been a long time coming and the President of the board of PCS is thrilled by the feedback received.  The PCS Board and Gleaners have taken a huge step to resolve our misunderstandings and to establish a relationship based on respect, communication, and collaboration.  We are all encouraged by this.

    

The meeting video recording is on You Tube via a private channel (It is not publicly searchable, so the recorded information is private).  The video also has a transcript that accompanies the video conversation. Transcript document (70 pages).. It accompanies this video recording from the meeting on 2/26.

Video Recording:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiacVAgZmFI&feature=youtu.be

Transcript Document: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IEiAqP5uTeBx-CEEDT-1ITdp4KoKovsdsQkBLnkxoe4/edit?usp=sharing

Summarized Meeting Minutes:

- Members of the board met with LBFS. In full we need to look forward, not back. 

-PCS Gleaners program Manager/Coordinator is a huge role- too much for just one person. Need more of a shared model. Several people have stepped up.

-Need to have a Gleaner Member Meeting to elect advisory board with training.

-Concerns were mentioned of past coordinators who were challenging. The board mentioned that the role the board has. Lots of policies. PCS board to interface with Gleaners advisory board when this happens. 

- Reiterated that Gleaners can approach the board with questions and concerns. Jodi, the Vice President of the Board of Directors urges you to contact her with questions or concerns. Jodi Russel email: Jodi.R@philomathcommunityservices.org

-- Gleaner program has a huge impact a reaches deeply into community. Imperative for synergy and collaboration. 

- Addressed Patty leaving

-Leadership conflicts, communication breakdown, food supply concerns, relationship with PCS, financial element.

-Drivers: Changing requirements with Fresh Alliance and Oregon Food Bank

-Questions:

What is going on with the building? Board is looking at long range plans for building due to capacity, repairs, ADA, etc. Eventually there will be a capital campaign, but not there yet. 

Who is in charge? Gleaner policy and procedures manual needs updating for 2025 including a clause on how to proceed with leadership/officer vacancies. 

Why are we in a leadership vacuum? Why is the communication with PCS so contentious? We don't want to be in a contentious position. The Gleaners lost the leadership (huge shoes to fill). We're missing key people to coordinate gleaning. Many hours required with no pay. 

Dwindling Food Supply- Why? Rumors that gleaners have purposefully been cut out financially(not true) & that's why food shelves are empty. Linn Benton Food Share's Susan James explained that LBFS has been receiving half of the amount of food they normally receive making the food on our shelves dwindle. Also explained that Food Banks receive the bulk and Gleaning programs are a supplemental food program so our program has lower priority of food than our local food banks.

" So it's prioritized. The food banks and the food pantries are prioritized emergency. They're

emergency food. They're the emergency providers. Gleaners are supplemental. So we're second tier or 3rd, as far as emergency." - Susan James, LBFS

 For example, just last year (2024) our gleaning group was picking up every week from the Linn Benton Food Share Warehouse of palletized food donations. Now we receive these donations every other week. Susan James also explained that our Target donations all go through the LBFS warehouse and get distributed based on their prioritizations. This has caused a great reduction in our donations from Target. Also, the Target donations and other food donations have slowly subsided since Covid. There are other donation sources being looked into as well as resources seeking funding for fuel/gas vouchers for volunteers driving personal vehicles for donation pickups.

Relationship with Board- are we allowed to come to meetings? PCS Board meeting minutes are available and sent to program coordinators. Gleaners get monthly budget reports that will be posted to the blog.

           Can we convert our materials into another language with help from LBFS? Yes, there                         is an intern at Stahlbush that can help with that. Contact LBFS for help with this. 

 Changing Driver Requirements?     Upcoming changes to requirements with Fresh Alliance and Oregon Food Bank: Every vehicle that picks up a food donation has to have somebody that has a food handler's card or a serve safe right whether you're picking up at target or you're picking up at dollar, General, or you're picking up at market of choice wherever it happens to be. Somebody in it has to have food handlers or a serve safe. And LBFS must have a copy of that.  And then, obviously, and we just only makes sense that every driver has to have a driver's license, and the vehicle has to have at least a liability insurance. There is a paper verification that goes along with this process.  Susan James will guide us through this at the meeting on the March 20th at her office. 

As we discussed at the meeting 2/26, the PCS Board wants PCS Gleaners to have monthly reports and to make them known to the membership.  You'll notice this one does not show any budget numbers.  That's because PCS Gleaners budget still needs to be determined. The board will be sure to keep us up to date with our programs financial standing and PCS board actions.  

 Financial Activity report from 1/1/25 to the end of February: