Rolling Harvest helps feed thousands of hungry families in Bucks County

BUCKS COUNTY (WPVI) -- Every year, 6abc partners in the region's largest food drive. The need this holiday season is as great as ever, with 1 in 6 people at risk of going hungry.

Now, there is a growing solution to the problem.

It's called gleaning, and the concept is simple. Connect local farmers with extra food in their fields with the pantries that need it to feed the hungry.

Every Wednesday morning, the parking lot at New Britain Baptist Church is filled with boxes of produce and directors from dozens of local pantries come to collect the bounty.

"Most of it is organic. It's grown a mile away, 2 miles away from the people who are eating it. It's delicious, it's healthy," said Cathy Snyder, Founder & Exec Director of Rolling Harvest Food Rescue.

Snyder started the non-profit a few years ago, frustrated by the quality of food being handed out at local pantries.

"We weren't getting any produce. The only produce we got was if individual people in the community brought produce into us," said Dottie Rimmer from the New Britain Baptist Food Larder.

So Snyder reached out to local farmers and now has more than 30, inviting volunteers to hit their fields and harvest the leftovers.

"Literally within an hour, you can have 1,000 pounds of really great food," said Snyder.

"There's no more basic way to help someone than to feed them if they're hungry," said Tony Dorazio, Founder of Carversville Farm Foundation.

While Bucks County is largely affluent, 5% of the population is living below the poverty line.

"Hunger is the number one issue that people bring up when we talk to them about what are the needs of the community," said Erin Lukoss, Exec Director of Bucks County Opportunity Center.

Rolling Harvest is helping ease that burden.

Providing fresh produce for 14,000 families a month in the growing season.

"These are hard-working good people who just really need some help," said Snyder.

If you'd like to help your neighbors in need this holiday season, click here to see the many ways you can connect, share and give.