Chico Gleaners make high-quality food and produce accessible for residents across Butte County.

It's a feel-good thing

Up until a few years ago, the Chico Gleaners didn’t even have a sign on Nord Avenue indicating where they were. However, Gleaners’ local president and retired plumber Lloyd Watson rectified that, and now when you travel over to 1436 Nord Avenue, Suite D, you’ll know exactly where to go. Now that you know how to get there, just what the heck are the Gleaners?

To glean is to gather grain or other food left behind after a harvest. That’s pretty much what the Gleaners do, but since this is 2022, they “glean” food from local farms, markets, and people who drive right in and drop the food off. The Gleaners also pick up leftover—but not out-of-date or expired—dry goods, canned food, and produce. Whatever usable items they can acquire to feed people is good for the Gleaner’s shelves. serve the poorest in our communities. That is completely untrue. “Anyone over 50 can come in and join the Gleaners,” said Lloyd. “Rich or poor, it doesn’t matter, as long as you pay your 50-dollara-month fee.” In reality, the customers who join the Gleaners' operation are often elderly and on a fixed income. That contributes to the myth. “50 dollars a month breaks down to $12.50 a week,” said Lloyd. He added, “Where are you going to go and fill up a big tote bag of groceries for $12.50?”

Two of the biggest supplies are bread and eggs, but there are a lot more to choose from. You can find canned and boxed goods including soup, condiments, meats, dairy products, bottled water, pastries, and a wide assortment of other foods. A few of the donors are Safeway on Nord Avenue, Grub Farm, Julia’s Fruit Stand in Los Molinos, Chico State, and a number of people who just show up with a vehicle full of food to donate.

“It’s definitely a feel-good thing all around,” said Lloyd. “It feels good to donate, it feels good to pick up food, and it feels good to volunteer.” And everyone who works for the Chico Gleaners is a volunteer. That’s part of the price of membership. You pay your 50 dollars, but you are asked to donate two hours a week. “We’ve got people up and down the spectrum volunteering, from very wealthy people to the folks who join so they can get food every week.”

Lloyd is complimentary of all of his volunteer staff, and that includes vice president Gary Hull. “Everybody here has one goal: help people out and give back to the community. If you'd like to stretch your dollar for groceries or have time to volunteer and help those in need, call the Chico Gleaners at (530) 895-3006.