From Fields to Food banks: Modern-day gleaning from the Book of Ruth

by Hazel Clarke

For the past 30-plus years, I have been involved with food banks both in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; and for the last 10 years, food banks have been my full-time mission field, where I serve as executive director of the North End Food Bank in Saint John NB. Volunteering or working at a food bank is a fast-paced physical environment. With so much going on it can be easy to only think about the tasks that need to be completed. But what is the larger picture of what we do at a food bank?

Recently I listened to a sermon from the book of Ruth and the pastor referenced food banks as “the modern-day gleaning.” That phrase stuck in my mind and I have spent the last three months thinking about it. Being a food banker is one of the most fulfilling and impactful ways to give back to the community. For me, it’s not just about spending time helping others; it’s about being part of a solution to an urgent and growing problem—food insecurity.

Health Canada defines food insecurity as “the inability to acquire or consume an adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways.” At the food bank, I can connect with people from all walks of life with varying levels of food insecurity. Each person has their own story. There is no one-size-fits-all. Food banks do not serve only those who wrestle with homelessness or joblessness. As our past president says: “any of us are only two weeks away from needing help”. Getting to know the people in our community, whether clients or volunteers, is one of the best things about food banking. Every day we see the best (and the worst) in people.

On my very first day at the food bank, I was volunteering in the office and a gentleman came in with a dresser strapped to his back. He was looking for a child he had met the previous week who he had learned didn’t have their own dresser and had to keep their belongings on the floor... He had emptied his dresser contents into a cardboard box as he decided the child needed a dresser more than he did. He didn’t have a car so he strapped the dresser to his back and walked it to the food bank. He told me he was 39 years old and at his age, it didn’t matter if he had a dresser or not. But it mattered to the little one and that upset him. Sometimes those who seem the poorest among us are the richest in generosity. The goal of operating a food bank is to simply provide food for those who need it, but so often our human nature creates a picture of what a food bank client looks like. While, yes, we have all sorts of adventures, this story serves as a reminder to me that no matter our circumstances, we can still provide a helping hand.

You might be asking, “Okay Hazel, but what is gleaning and what does it have in common with food banks?” The practice of gleaning was established by God in the Mosaic Law to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society—such as widows, orphans, and foreigners—were provided for. Leviticus 19:9-10 and Deuteronomy 24:19-22 specifically instructed landowners to leave the edges of their fields unharvested and to leave behind any crops that fell during the harvest. In other words, farmers would not collect their entire harvest but leave specific parts of their fields for those in need. They literally gave away the edges of their fields! This system of gleaning was intended to provide sustenance for those in need while also respecting their dignity. Food could be gathered for those who needed it without having to beg for handouts.

Food insecurity is still very prevalent. In Canada well over 1,000,000 visits are made to food banks each month as reported by Food Banks Canada. And that number continues to grow. In Saint John, NB, we have five active food banks. The North End Food Bank where I serve provides food to 600 families a month. To fulfill our mandate, we rely on almost 60 volunteers. The amount of work involved in feeding 600 families can seem daunting. Working alongside others, sorting, packaging, lugging and lifting is heavy work. We often joke we don’t need a gym membership. At the food bank, we use muscles we didn’t know we had!

In the context of modern society, this practice of gleaning has found a parallel in the work we do. Today, food banks serve as a safety net for people struggling with food insecurity, ensuring that even those with limited resources have access to sustenance. Like Ruth, who humbly gleaned from the fields, modern food banks allow individuals to gather the provisions they need in a way that respects their dignity and needs.

Volunteers at food banks often engage with recipients to offer support, listen to their stories,

and provide a sense of community. In this way, food banks are not just about meeting immediate needs but about creating a culture of care, compassion, and shared responsibility. At the end of each day, we can look back and see the tangible impact of our work. No matter how exhausted we are, when our workers can see shelves stocked with nonperishables, produce bins ready to be distributed, freezers, and fridges filled and ready to be bagged and given out, the importance of what we do is reinforced. This immediacy, the ability to see the results of our efforts in real-time is one of the most rewarding aspects of food banking.

Food banking can be emotionally challenging at times, but it’s also deeply rewarding. There are moments of heartbreak—meeting families who struggle to make ends meet or hearing stories of hardship. It can also be physically challenging. We scrub the floors more frequently than most people would imagine. We handle rotten donations that we compost so they don't go to waste. We work in the local vegetable garden bending our tired backs and pulling weeds so we can provide fresh produce. We sometimes encounter people who are under so much stress they act with aggression. All these factors make finding our

much needed (and deeply valued) volunteers quite challenging. But there are also moments of joy—seeing the gratitude in a client’s eyes, receiving a heartfelt thank-you, or witnessing the relief on someone’s face when they realize they’ll have enough food for a few days. These moments stay with me and serve as powerful reminders of why I do what I do. And I love it when I have coffee to give! While not necessary from a nutritionist’s point of view, the ability to share a cup of coffee with family and friends can be a treasured moment!

Developing relationships with people is incredibly important, not just with our volunteers but also with our clients. Getting to know them, their families, and their stories takes time and energy. Remembering names means so much. Asking about the sick child, or the family member who started a new job ensures clients that they matter and that their stories are heard, remembered, and important. We hear a lot about fellowship in our world. And what does fellowship so often revolve around? Food, sharing a meal, and getting together for coffee. Imagine a world where there is a potluck, and you don’t go because you have nothing to bring. Or a friend drops in and you have nothing to offer. Sometimes, it's the smallest gestures that mean the most. Having a “little bite of something” or sharing a hot drink on a cold day goes beyond just meeting basic needs. It’s about offering comfort, dignity, and respect. I overheard someone telling our volunteers this week how grateful they were when we had coffee to offer. And how in her community, there was often a knock on the door and the ask for a cup of coffee and she was so happy to be able to share what she received.

Working together with others for a common goal develops lasting friendships, deeper relationships, moments of shared vulnerability, and honest conversations. It is easy to sit behind a desk and say “Next! here you go, have a nice day. Next!” It is a challenge to walk in the lineups, to share stories, to listen, to really listen to those who are struggling to live each day.

If you are looking for a place to serve, I suggest contacting your local food bank. Especially

if you don’t mind the dirty jobs, the places that are often overlooked. Washing dishes, processing donations, unloading pallets of food, cleaning up potato dust, and scrubbing floors. I would welcome you with open arms and yes: Coffee! Coffee! The frontlines of serving at the food bank cannot be done with the dignity and respect people deserve on some of the hardest days they are facing if the grungiest jobs aren’t done.

There has been a big change in recent years in the diverse culture of our neighborhood. It can be heartbreaking to hear the stories of those who have escaped war-torn countries. It is a privilege to be able to live and serve alongside some of the bravest people I have ever met. Sometimes we ask each other where would Jesus be if he were walking the earth today. I don’t have any difficulty imagining him rolling up his sleeves at a food bank and getting his hands dirty.