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ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Senior ‘Gleans’ Surplus Farm Produce to Help Feed the Hungry

By Tom Porter
Shannon McCabe ’17 on Six River Farm in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ham
Shannon McCabe ’17 on Six River Farm in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ham

Environmental studies and sociology major Shannon McCabe ’17  is earning high praise for implementing what she describes as a “simple, elegant solution” to Maine’s hunger problem.

, McCabe and her team of volunteers have “gleaned” more than 3,200 pounds of vegetables over the last two months, enabling the food to go toward various hunger initiatives. The term “glean” in this case means to redirect a farm’s surplus crop—produce deemed to be unmarketable, but still nevertheless perfectly edible—to places where it won’t go to waste, such as food pantries.

McCabe is the recipient of a Denning Summer Fellowship, awarded by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ College’s Joseph McKeen Center for the Common Good. The fellowship is designed for students who already have a foundation in community engagement, and are seeking an in-depth experience working on a public issue of interest related to their academic major.