A Host of Volunteers

Gleaning For The World is very pleased to report that numerous volunteers spent hours at our facility helping our team to sort, pack and rack shoes... 30,000 pairs of shoes to be exact!

With a very small staff at our operation, we count on hundreds of volunteers each month to help us carefully inspect each item. We want our receiving organizations to have no trouble when the shipment arrives at their location. With our 97% efficiency record and better with all of our loads, we are determined to make it easier for those distributing these supplies so that people in need can receive aid in a very quick time.

The process is still underway here in Concord, Virginia. We are just about through sorting and packing. As soon as the paperwork is finalized with custom regulations, these tractor-trailer loads of supplies will be shipped to help better lives in Sudan and Pakistan. You may already know that people living in these locations do not have access to supplies like we do.

In Pakistan, approximately two million people have fled their homes because of Taliban forces. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to die from walking for days to refugee camps without the necessary supplies to survive. While shoes are one of many things they need, we are working with humanitarian groups to save as many people as we can. These new shoes will protect their feet from infections and other diseases.

In addition, Gleaning recently shipped out one tractor-trailer load of medical supplies, protective gear and food to people in Mexico dealing with the swine flu outbreak. The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic on Thursday, June 11th. These supplies will help doctors administer to those sick. And since Mexico is believed to be the epicenter of the flu, this shipment will also help guarantee protection from the flu spreading to our families in America.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have made this possible! If you would like to help, either by sorting supplies in our warehouse or by making a financial contribution, please contact us as soon as possible. Together, we can make a difference!