West Seattle Community Gleaning Day happened on Saturday, September 13, 2025, and is a local initiative focused on reducing food waste and supporting hunger relief efforts. This community-driven event aims to ensure that perfectly good food reaches those in need rather than going to waste.

The West Seattle Rotary Club was out visiting the yards of folks who had fruit to donate. Mike Price the organizer for Rotary and his associate comprised one of four teams who fanned out across West Seattle. Price reported “I am happy to report that our team was able to glean a total of 841 lbs of fruit today! Grapes, apples, plums & pears will be enjoyed by those in our community that are in need”

The day featured two primary methods of food recovery:

• Fruit Tree Harvesting: Volunteers were dispatched to harvest ripe fruit, such as apples, pears, plums, and quince, from thousands of local trees and vines in West Seattle that would otherwise go uneaten. This harvested fruit is then transported to local food banks to benefit neighbors in need.

• Farmers Market Collection: Volunteers will gather surplus fresh produce from vendors at the West Seattle Farmers Market after it closes on Sunday. This collected food is then donated to local food banks and community organizations.

The initiative highlights several key benefits:

• Food Recovery: It prevents good fruits and vegetables from being wasted.

• Community Support: It provides nutritious food to neighbors who are in need.

• Sustainability: It promotes environmentally responsible practices by redirecting excess food.

The West Seattle Community Gleaning Day is sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Seattle.

Additional partners supporting this effort include City Fruit, WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK, Scouting America, WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK, and Chief Seattle Council.

If you missed today's West Seattle Community Gleaning Day or you have fruit that ripens at a different time of year, consider sharing it via City Fruit. For more information, visit www.cityfruit.org/share-your-fruit/.

Questions about Community Gleaning Day? E-mail the Rotary Club of West Seattle at ws_rotary@yahoo.com.

Since 1947, the Rotary Club of West Seattle has been a proud part of the West Seattle community and of Rotary International--a global network comprising more than 35,000 club, with more thn 1.2 million members who believe in the motto "Service Above Self." For more information, visit West Seattle Rotary.org.