Elise Bauman
Executive Director
Nancy Walton
Program Director
Rob Easton
President and
Sponsorships Manager
Ron Pearmine
Vice-president
Roz Shirack
Secretary and
Harvest Leader
Amy Church
Treasurer
Mady Kimmich
Board member and Harvest Leader
Dick Yates
Website and Database Manager
George Harris
Board member
Rochelle Rafn
Board member
Feeding hungry families by harvesting food
that would go to waste.
Salem Harvest is one of the largest volunteer-powered harvesting organizations in the state. We connect farmers and backyard growers with volunteer pickers to harvest fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. Salem Harvest was established in January 2010 and is currently managed by an Executive Director and a eight-member board of directors.
Here's how it works
- Commercial growers and private homeowners with excess, unmarketable, or unused fruits and vegetables contact us to donate their crops. Donations are tax deductible and some growers are eligible for an Oregon Crop Donation Tax Credit.
- Harvests are organized, working closely with the grower, to gather the donated produce. Volunteers sign up online, checking off a liability waiver that protects crop owners.
- Half or more of each harvest is delivered to food distribution agencies across the Mid-Willamette Valley. Harvest volunteers may take home the remainder for children or homeless, unemployed, elderly or low-income individuals.
Everyone benefits
Harvests offer an opportunity for families to work together in the outdoors, help others in our community, and gain a better understanding of where our food comes from. Harvests offer local growers a compassionate alternative to letting their crops go to waste, reduce the effects of food waste on the environment, and provide families in need a way to gain self-sufficiency. Also, parents have an opportunity to teach their children to care for others. -The act of giving empowers.
Building community
Harvests pull together a broad cross-section of the community representing diverse socioeconomic levels and ethnic groups. Hundreds of individuals primarily interested in sustainable lifestyles work alongside people who struggle with job loss and other economic challenges. Children are welcome at most harvests.
How you can help
There are several ways to support Salem Harvest:
- Make a tax-deductible donation to Salem Harvest. Contact Elise for more information.
- Become a Season Sponsor. Contact Rob for more information.
- Join us as a volunteer in the fields harvesting.
- Donate fresh produce. Crops can be registered here.
- Follow Salem Harvest on social media and share information with your friends.
