Go to Fraser Valley Gleaners web site @ www.fvgleaners.org for a printable version of this newsletter.

Our 20th Annual General Meeting will start at 10:00 AM at the plant located at 85 Winson Rd. Abbotsford.  BBQ lunch will be served after the meeting.  Nominations:  The FVG constitution states that "nominations for directors must be submitted to the board of directors, in writing, at least 24 hours before an annual meeting, in such a form as is published from time to time by the society." Several director positions are up for re-election and we have appointed a nominations committee with nomination forms available at the plant.  Please contact Bob Spyksma (604-859-9759) or Marilyn Vriend (604-850-3830) for further information. 

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Fraser Valley Gleaners I wish you all a very Happy and Blessed New Year!  2019 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Fraser Valley Gleaners Society. God has blessed the vision, courage and dedication of the original founders of the society, and we owe them many thanks.  We are grateful for the generosity and assistance of MCC, who built the original plant on their property, and allowed us to use it for many years for almost no rent. We started production in 2001, and we have been able to increase production of our dried soup mix every year since then; last year we produced 15 million soup servings. We have been humbled and astounded by the many reports we have received about the huge impact the soup mix has had in the lives of the recipients. We give all glory and praise to our gracious God!  I would be remiss if I did not pay tribute to the work and commitment of our efficient plant manager couple, Carl and Elaine Goosen, as well as the rest of the staff. But the backbone and heart of our ministry are the faithful volunteers, who give of their time to make the ministry function. The donors of funds and product have given generously to the cause of the Gleaners. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of you! As we reflect on the last 20 years of our existence, we look forward with thanksgiving and confidence in our
God and pray that He will continue to bless the work of Fraser Valley Gleaners in 2019.
Ed Klassen, President

The Gleaners plant was closed for two weeks in August to re-surface and paint the main warehouse floor.  We are very pleased with the outcome.  The other projects that we completed were the purchase of a new electric forklift, as well as a new display for our presentations and an updated promotion video.

Meet our new on-site Caretaker couple.  Joel has also taken on the job of Assistant Manager.  We look forward to getting to know them better and working with them at the plant. 

There are nine Gleaners throughout Canada - if you are going on a road trip or in the area of a Gleaners - drop in and volunteer for a morning!  Here is a list of Gleaners with their web sites:

In B.C. - Okanagan Gleaners - www.okanagangleaners.com,  North Okanagan Valley Gleaners - www.novgleaners.org,  Fraser Valley Gleaners - www.fvgleaners.org

In Alberta - Peace Country Gleaners - www.pcgleaners.com, Prairie Gleaners - www.prairiegleaners.com

In Ontario - Ontario Christian Gleaners - www.ontariogleaners.org, Reapers of Hope - www.christianaidministries.ca, Southern Ontario Gleaners - www.swogleaners.ca, Niagara Gleaners - www.niagaragleaners.org

This past year's event was held at the plant and was attended by 225 people.  Carol singing was a highlight with Bob and Anne, and a delicious lunch was had by all.  Thank you for bringing your favourites.  Special guest, Judy Bergen, shared about her ministry "Love Guatemala Canada."  Judy gave a report of how Gleaner soup was being used in the areas she works in and how people are recovering after the volcano which erupted in June 2018.  Our new FVG promo video was shown - if you would like to see our new video, it is posted on our web page. 

* Volunteer Appreciation Week - February 11th - 15th.  Join us fo a soup and bun lunch after work at the plant.

* We are currently open Monday to Friday –     8:30 am until noon.

* The plant will be closed Feb. 18th for Family Day, April 19th for Good Friday and April 22nd for Easter Monday.

* The plant will be open on Saturdays starting May 7th, 2019.

* Thank you to the many volunteers who faithfully support the Gleaners.  51,000 volunteer hours were logged in 2018 at our plant! We are presently packaging soup mix with our goal to make over 15 million soup servings.

* Tours are available daily of the Gleaners plant - phone the office for a suitable time.

* Groups are encouraged to book for the summer months.  We have four RV sites with hookups.  Dates are still available in August.

* Pray for God to give direction for the 2019 Year at Fraser Valley Gleaners.

Agape Food Bank - onions and apples, Canadian Farms - carrots and potatoes, Coastal Pacific Express - variety, Heppell's Potato Corportation - potatoes, Joseph Chow Trucking - trucking, Mike Wonnick - dried peas, Nature's Touch - frozen product, Ralph's Farm Market - apples, Rosanna Farms - dried lentils, Sumas Ridge - peppers, Vic Willms Farm - dried peas, George Bergen - dried peas, Village Farms - tomatoes, Willms Seeds - dried beans, Wisbey Farms - parsnips and cabbage. 

    We continue to wait to obtain the building permit for our kitchen, washrooms and office expansion.  There are some questions and issues that need to be resolved between ourselves, City of Abbotsford and ALR before we can get our building permit.  Please continue to pray for us as we work at this.       Ben Doerksen  

Fraser Valley Gleaner’s is 100% donor driven.  Your donation dollars help us feed some of the world’s hungry by converting surplus food into a nutritious soup mix.  Funds donated are used to operate our facility.  Charitable tax receipts will be issued for your donations in February 2020.  By Mail – cheque or money order donations can be mailed to 85 Winson Road, Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 8E8.  By Internet – credit card donations can be made via Canada Helps by following the link on our web site @ www.fvgleaners.org.   By Phone - Donations can be made by credit card.  Call 604-870-9272 and talk to one of our staff.  Thank you for your continued support to this ministry.   

Ben Doerksen, Trevor Fowler, Mark Hardy, Ed Klassen, Bill Spyksma, Dave Staley, Wade Trimble, Anne VanderMeulen, Marilyn Vriend and Vic Willms.

The Bible says: “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1

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