On September 12, 2009, Johns Hopkins University commemorated the formal inauguration of its new president, Ron Daniels, with a university-wide Day of Service. More than 1,000 faculty, staff, and students signed up to participate in service projects on campus and in the Community. The Campus Kitchen at Johns Hopkins University sponsored a gleaning trip to First Fruits Farm in Freeland, Maryland. Even with a forecast of not so sunny skies, 60 volunteers boarded the bus headed to the farm.

The original plan for CKJHU was to pick potatoes; however, due to rainy weather conditions, plans were changed and we picked apples instead. Despite rainy weather, the volunteers had a great time. Instead of staying in bed watching the rain drip down the window, people were out and about making a difference. Overall, we managed to pick more than 2,000 pounds of apples! CKJHU donated most of the apples to DC Central Kitchen, but kept about 200lbs. Half of these were donated to a local elementary school, and the remainder will be used in CKJHU’s meal production… mmm… apple cobbler.

This is the second gleaning trip for CKJHU this summer. Earlier this summer, CKJHU began working with the Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network (www.midatlanticgleaningnetwork.org) to build relationships with farmers who want to donate the produce that will not end up in the markets and volunteers who will pick the produce. First Fruits Farm, a not-for-profit farm run by Rick and Carol Bernstein, is dedicated to feeding the hungry in the surrounding communities. All of the produce is volunteer-picked and then donated to organizations such as the Baltimore food bank and local churches. For more information about the farm, visit www.firstfruitsfarm.org.

Due to the two gleaning trips this summer, CKJHU has a total of 3000 pounds that would have been left on the trees and vines to rot. In exchange of a couple hours of apple picking in an orchard with friends, CKJHU was part of the solution of keeping healthy food to our community and getting it to those who might not have had.

(Written by Chandni Mahtani, Lia Metreveli, Jessica Zha)

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