“It’s a generosity loop”: Religious and spiritual motivations of volunteers who glean produce to reduce food insecurity |
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Authors: | Mary Kate Dennis Edward T Scanlon Alicia M Sellon |
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Institution: | School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas |
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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. |
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Keywords: | community organizational religion volunteering |
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