Harvesting Hope: A student movement to fight hunger in Tulare County

TULARE, Calif – Students are making a difference one harvest at a time and are learning how to be part of the solution to fight hunger with the non-profit program Harvesting Hope.

Harvesting Hope began as a classroom assignment and turned into a county-wide project helping fight hunger in Tulare County.

“As long as there is that desire from students who want to make a difference, this will definitely continue to keep going,” Harvesting Hope coordinator Michaelpaul Mendoza said.

Students from over 15 schools in Tulare County have helped pick over 500,000 pounds of fruit, which is all donated to local food banks.

“What I look forward to when I volunteer is the opportunity to make new friends and just having the experience of working in the fields and bringing food to people that need it,” Mission Oak student Natalya Ruelas said.

The impact of Harvesting Hope extends to both students and teachers creating a sense of community and a shared commitment to fighting food insecurity.

“Many teachers will have those moments where it’s like I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life. Harvesting Hope is one of those moments,” Mendoza said.

For more information on getting involved, volunteering or donating your fruit trees, visit Harvesting Hope on Instagram @HarvestingHopeTC.