Education & Training

At Gleaners, we believe that raising awareness through our education programs and outreach into the community is key to fulfilling our mission. Gleaners’ education and outreach programs promote hunger awareness and community involvement in the solution to hunger among both children and adults. Gleaners also teaches courses that help low-income families get the most nutritional value out of limited resources. The following are just a few examples of our education and outreach programs:

  • Operation Frontline

    Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline - operated locally by Gleaners - is a nutrition, education, and financial planning program. Operation Frontline is a direct outreach program that mobilizes culinary and nutrition professionals to teach cooking classes focusing on nutrition and food budgeting to people who are at risk of hunger and malnutrition. Chefs and nutritionists volunteer their time to lead the classes, which run for four to six weeks and are held at nonprofit community centers.

    Learn more about Operation Frontline here »

  • Kids Helping Kids®

    Kids Helping Kids® invites students to Gleaners for education and volunteerism. The educational focus is on the importance of good nutrition and hunger awareness. Over theyears, KHK has introducedthousands of school-agedchildren to community service benefitting southeast Michigan.

    Students begin with an introduction to the history of the food bank and a tour of the warehouse, a half-hour education session, followed by a hands-on experience that supports Gleaners' mission. In addition to the traditional KHK opportunities for groups offered at our Detroit, Pontiac and Warren facilities, Gleaners is also pleased to offer a monthly KHK Family Day.

    Learn more about Kids Helping Kids® here »

  • Speakers Bureau

    The Speakers Bureau is a group of volunteers who represent Gleaners at various events. We count on our Speakers Bureau to let people understand how their support helps us nourish communities by feeding hungry people in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland and Wayne counties. Our goal is to help more members of the community get a better understanding of:

    • The need for emergency food assistance
    • How Gleaners plays a vital role in the "food chain" from donors to hungry people
    • How Gleaners is taking a leadership role in ending hunger
    • Ways that community members can get involved with Gleaners.

    If you are interested in volunteering for our Speakers Bureau, or if you would like to arrange for speaker to present at your event or organization, please contact Julie Ptasznik at jptasznik@gcfb.org or 866-GLEANER ext. 245. More information on our Speakers Bureau is also available here »

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