It has been cabbage season in Tennessee! We’ve distributed four 40,000+ lb. loads over the last several weeks, through the Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, through Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee in Nashville, Second Harvest of Northeast Tennessee in Johnson City, and Central Services in Morristown.

As part of our tornado relief efforts, we sent a truckload of cucumbers, squash, and watermelons to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank in early May—a welcome sign of hope for a hurting community.

Field gleaning and farmers market gleanings are getting underway for 2011. We need volunteers in every area of the state this summer—it’s fun and is something whole families can do together. We try to beat the heat by gleaning early in the morning or just before dusk. Email Program Coordinator Linda Tozer (sosatn@endhunger.org) to sign up, and she’ll notify you as gleaning opportunities are available in your area.

Please think of the Society of St. Andrew when you stop at a farm stand or farmers market. Purchase fresh, nutritious vegetables for yourself, and invite the farmers to share their excess or unmarketable produce with SoSA to feed the hungry. We’ll all eat better food when you do that!

We love to tell the SoSA story—call on us! Contact Lynette Johnson (sosatn@endhunger.org) 615-878-6134 or Linda Tozer (gleantn@endhunger.org) 615-878-9233.