My ignorance as to the way the world works logistically always amazes me. Take food distribution to the needy as the most recent instance. I daftly figured that you have a can drive here or a grocery store gives some overstock to a church there and that's your working food pantry. Then I met Mark Davis, one of the biggest persons on the island.
One morning in April of 2003, Mark woke up at 2:00 am very much awake and something told him to go to Dennys. (I have a feeling that something is different that the something that tells me to go to Dennys after the bar closes at 2:00 am.) When Mark got to the restaurant, he found himself a couple seats down from a man talking about the need for feeding the elderly. This man was Pastor Bill Ritter.
Mark and Bill built a relationship and worked together to distribute food under the name of Gleanings from the Harvest. In February of 2004, Bill died. His last request was that the 20 frozen turkeys he had in the freezer, be prepared to feed the hungry of Galveston. Gleanings and friends went further than that. They prepared a full on Thanksgiving style dinner that fed 300 people right there in the funeral home parking lot. I would imagine that Pastor Ritter would have been very proud.
In April of 2004, Mark Davis heard that "something" again and this time it didn't mention Dennys. Mark left his full time job out of faith to become Gleanings' executive director (read "only employee"). With Bill's vision and Mark's Braun, Gleanings from the Harvest helps organizations across the county feed thousands.
But the bulk of Gleanings' work nowadays doesn't involve distributing food to the homeless, hungry, or sick. That type of system isn't the most efficient. Gleanings' distributes food to viable groups that feed the needy. This way, they can put all of their efforts into obtaining, organizing, storing, and distributing the food accordingly.
To find out more about this organization or find out how you can help, please visit their website at www.gfthgalveston.org or email Mark directly at mark@gfthgalveston.org.
Great coverage on an organization worthy of the recognition. Thank you!
Go IBC for covering another vital aspect of our community! Gleanings and so many other nonprofs on the Island and throughout the county are integral to our overall health and wellbeing. They, and the courage and resiliency of those they serve, should be celebrated. Gracias!