The Cooperative Gleaning Program was born in the spring of 1989, under the guidance of the Community Action Agency of Franklin County, and with the assistance of a $70,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health. In our first year, five emergency food banks and two counties were served (70,000 lbs. of produced gleaned from area farmers).

The NY State Department of Corrections became an important member in the growing coop in 1990 by providing acreage, inmate manpower, processing space and invaluable ideas, leadership and know-how. The Akwesasne Mohawk Tribe has also supplied heavy equipment to assist in tending the gardens and transporting the product; and local farms (Childstock Farms and others) have provided vegetables to glean.

In 1994 Cooperative Gleaning achieved national recognition by receiving a $200,000+ grant from the Community Food and Nutritional Program of the Department of Health and Human Services to be used, in part, to educate other communities nationwide. Our knowledgeable staff developed, designed and produced a "Gleaning Bible," providing step-by-step instructions on the planning and implementation of a Gleaning Program. Replicas of our program were started in New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Arizona and Louisiana. Four of these are still operating successfully.

Following the disastrous Ice Storm of 1998 we coordinated the delivery and distribution of 42 tractor trailer loads of supplies from all over the country, and 466,900 pounds of firewood to shelters, food sites, towns, adult centers and food pantries.

Cooperative Gleaning has earned nationwide and statewide recognition through many awards, including the following:

- Certificate of Recognition for First Year of Service
(State of New York Executive Chamber, 1990)

- Outstanding Community Health Promotion Program
(US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, 1992)

- New York State Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award (1993)

- Certificate of Recognition (America the Beautiful, 1994)

- Feed the Hungry of New York City Recognition (City Harvest, Inc., 2000)

ComLinks Cooperative Gleaning Program has evolved to address rural hunger and nutritional needs, delivering healthy foods to eight Northern New York counties. Our dedicated staff provides supplemental food and nutrition education to more than 80 food pantries, soup kitchens, and neighborhood and community outreach centers. We have increased our efforts to grow more fresh fruits and vegetables through gardening initiatives by focusing on community health issues and promoting proper nutrition and self-reliance in our local communities.