Gleaning had its beginnings over 6,000 years ago as an honorable way of neighbor helping neighbor. Renton community coop (RCC) has contracts with stores and business in the Renton area. When these organizations have an excess of food that they are unable to sell, RCC members pick up these products and divide them amongst the members.
This food can not go to a food bank for a number of reasons: some of the food is past it’s “best by” date; some of the food packaging is damaged; and in some cases, the food bank does not need more of that specific food item.
Members are required to pay a tax deductible fee of $24 annually to cover insurance and other co-op expenses.
Members are required to complete two drives a month. Each drive takes an average of 1-3 hours. Beyond that, all gleans are optional and each has varying time commitments
You can choose how often you participate in gleans. Bread glean is available twice a week. Grocery gleans are available at 2-4 days a week.
Children are not to be in the stores with a member while he/she is on RCC business. Children under the age of 12 are not to be left in the car in the store parking lot. Children are allowed to remain in the car if the car is in full view of the member at all times.
If hosting a glean you must live in Renton but if you live outside of Renton you can ask a co-op member who lives in Renton to host. The stores that we glean from are in Kent, Renton and Issaquah.
Food from glean may not be sold or donated with the intent to sell (i.e. bake sale). Unwanted food can be given to friends and family or posted on community group pages, without including the store's name. Groceries can be used as ingredients to make items to sell.
Send an e-mail to us at rentoncommunitycoop@gmail.com with your contact information. We will reach out to you to begin the new member process. The co-op has a member limit of 50 households. If we are at our max, you will be added to a waitlist.