"It's a generosity loop": Religious and spiritual motivations of volunteers who glean produce to reduce food insecurity. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dennis, Mary Kate; Scanlon, Edward T.; Sellon, Alicia M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of religion & spirituality in social work. Volume 36:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 456
• Page End: 478
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: community -- organizational -- religion -- volunteering; Church and social problems -- United States -- Periodicals; Church and social problems -- Catholic Church -- Periodicals; Christian sociology -- Periodicals; 261.805
• DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2017.1284633
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1542-6432

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Food insecurity is a common social issue and households look to assistance from food pantries, which often have difficulty supplying fresh or nutritious food. A substantial amount of produce is left in the fields, which can be collected through gleaning. In a focus group with volunteer gleaners at a faith-based nonprofit organization that attempts to fill the gaps of food insecurity, the motivations, challenges, and benefits of volunteering were examined. Volunteering in gleaning generated a sense of collective purpose and community; it addressed deeply held religious and spiritual impulses; and it puts volunteers directly in contact with nature.