
Gleaning in Honor of MLK: A Day of Service to Fight Hunger and Unite Communities
Volunteers from across Palm Beach County gathered at Bedner’s Farm in Boynton Beach to participate in a special day of service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Together, they engaged in the age-old practice of gleaning, harvesting fresh produce that gets donated to food insecure people nearby.

Volunteers gleaning peppers at Bedner's Farm. (Photo by Morgann Rhule)
By Morgann Rhule | MediaLab@FAU
Jan 21, 2025
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed annually on the third Monday of January, is a federal holiday recognized as a National Day of Service. Across the country, individuals participate in volunteer events and opportunities to give back to their communities. One activity involves picking fresh produce for distribution to those in need. Each year, CROS Ministries hosts an event known as “gleaning.”
Gleaning is an age-old practice used to combat hunger for thousands of years. Rooted in biblical tradition, it provided support to the most vulnerable members of society, such as widows, orphans, and travelers, as mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures. As a Christian organization, CROS Ministries is dedicated to serving the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
“On Martin Luther King Day, I come out and help the gleaning program, usually just today,” said Gibbie Nauman, CROS Director of Development and Community Relations for the last 14 years, during the Jan. 20 event.
“That’s one of our busiest days, when we have a group from United Way of Palm Beach County, the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and Palm Beach Atlantic University come out together and recover the fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste,” Nauman said.
Nauman, who participates in the event every year, cautioned volunteers to come prepared for the coldest day of the year. Combined with the frequent showers, volunteers were advised to dress warmly and bring rain gear to stay comfortable while working in the challenging weather conditions.
“Martin Luther King Day is a day of service, so why not have a day where groups come together to recover fresh produce in Palm Beach County that will go to meal programs and pantries,” she said with a smile while greeting volunteers and taking their forms.
United Way is another organization that comes out every year with CROS to glean on MLK day. There to represent was Nubia Otrega, United Way Director of Volunteering and Engagement.
“MLK day is a very special day; we feel like it is a great day to give back to the community,” said Ortega, wearing a hood over her head to protect from the rain.
CROS Ministries is one of United Ways' partner agencies, making gleaning one of the top programs funded.
“Our mission is to ensure that everyone in Palm Beach County has access to the basics, and obviously food is one of those things,” says Ortega. “Hunger is one of our pillars, and this is why we feel very strongly about Gleaning and partnering with CROS ministries.”
At this year’s gleaning event, participants gathered at Bedner’s Farm in Boynton Beach, where they harvested approximately 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of red and green peppers—a smaller yield than usual.
“[It was] definitely not because of the rain,” said Robynne Ryals, CROS Ministries Director of Gleaning. Clarifying that the reduced amount was not due to the weather.
“On MLK Day, we typically collect between 18,000 and 20,000 pounds,” she said. This year, however, challenges arose as their truck encountered difficulties reaching the site.
Ryals began her journey as a gleaning volunteer after becoming an empty nester. Now, 14 years later, she is a part of the CROS Ministries staff and has been director for the last four years.
With her freshly dyed purple and blue hair, Ryals is in charge of recruiting volunteers, reaching out to farms, and ensuring there is a location for individuals to glean.
While gleaning typically happens throughout the week—except on Mondays—Martin Luther King Jr. Day stands out as a special day of service.
“It’s just the representation, we’re representing MLK by giving back to our communities,” she said. “We’re getting people to come out and serve together, we’re being diversified and showing that we’re one big group.”
Many of the volunteers at the event were students from Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU), a private, nondenominational Christian college in West Palm Beach. The university requires its students to complete 45 hours of community service every year, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day serves as a dedicated day of service for all students.
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” said Elisabeth Robinson, a freshman at PBAU. “I’m from further up north, and I live by the beach, so I’ve never gleaned before, and I thought it would be a good opportunity.”
“I hope to have just more of the heart of serving,” said Gabrielle Greenlee, walking up with a blanket covering her head. “The more that you go out and experience it, the more you’re going to want to go and do those things for the community,” continued Greenlee, another freshman at Palm Beach Atlantic and Robinson’s friend.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream was to unite people in equality, justice and peace. Today, his legacy is honored through acts of service that bring communities together to uplift and support one another. By dedicating time to helping others, individuals commemorate his vision and actively contribute to creating a more compassionate and unified society.
