After The Harvest

AFTER THE HARVEST (ATH) RESCUES NUTRITIOUS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM GOING TO WASTE AND DONATES THEM TO AGENCIES THAT SERVE HUNGRY PEOPLE, PRIMARILY IN GREATER KANSAS CITY. OUR VOLUNTEERS GLEAN AFTER THE HARVEST, PICKING WHAT'S LEFT IN FARMERS' FIELDS AND PICKING UP ALREADY HARVESTED LEFTOVER PRODUCE. THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS WE RAISE HELPS US PROCURE SEMI- TRUCKLOADS OF DONATED PRODUCE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE END UP IN LANDFILLS. HARVESTERS-THE COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK IS OUR PRIMARY PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION PARTNER, AND ATH IS HARVESTERS' LARGEST LOCAL PRODUCE DONOR. FOR AFTER THE HARVEST, AS FOR MANY NONPROFITS IN OUR REGION, 2021 WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO DRIVE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL FOOD INSECURITY TO HEIGHTS NOT SEEN SINCE BEFORE 2008, THOUGH THE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO ATH AND OTHER NONPROFITS WORKING TO MEET THAT NEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY. FUNDERS WHO HAD INCREASED THEIR SUPPORT IN 2020 REDUCED OR CUT THEIR FUNDING IN 2021 ENTIRELY. AND INTERNALLY, ATH DEAL

THE USDA CONTINUED ITS FARMS TO FAMILIES FOOD BOX PROGRAM IN MANY REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021, THOUGH NOT IT MISSOURI OR KANSAS. ATH WORKED WITH HARVESTERS TO SECURE 69 TRUCKLOADS OF FRESH PRODUCE IN 2021, SHARING COSTS TO ENABLE US TO BRING IN MORE TRUCKLOADS. PRODUCE RANGED FROM WHITE AND SWEET POTATOES TO PINEAPPLE AND WATERMELON. REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING IMPACTED THIS PROGRAM MARKEDLY, AS POUNDS SECURED THROUGH THE TRUCKLOADS PROGRAM DROPPED BY MORE THAN 100,000 POUNDS, COMPARED TO 2020.

UNEXPECTED GIFTS AND GRANTS RECEIVED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2020 ALLOWED ATH TO CONTINUE EXPANDING ITS LOCAL AND REGIONAL PROGRAM WORK IN 2021, ENABLING ATH TO EXCEED 1 MILLION POUNDS OF PRODUCE RESCUED THROUGH ITS GLEANING PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ORGANIZATION STARTED IN 2014. THE FIRST-QUARTER PURCHASE OF A REFRIGERATED TRUCK INCREASED THE ORGANIZATION'S ABILITY TO RESCUE PRODUCE FROM REGIONAL PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSES AND FARMS, ENABLING ATH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO RESCUE 268,884 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE, ALL OF WHICH WAS DELIVERED TO AGENCIES AND FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE KANSAS CITY REGION. THE EXPANSION FUNDING ALSO ALLOWED ATH TO INCREASE ITS WORK WITH REGIONAL AMISH AND MENNONITE FARMERS THROUGH ITS FAIR SHARE PROGRAM, ACCOUNTING FOR 692,084 POUNDS OF REGIONALLY GROWN PRODUCE DISTRIBUTED INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HARVESTERS. AND FINALLY, THE EXPANSION FUNDING ENABLED ATH TO EXPAND GLEANING OPERATIONS INTO DOUGLAS COUNTY IN KANSAS, IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZED GLEANERS.