Student Contributor -M. Caballero
Since 2013, Spokane Edible Tree Project (SETP) has connected fruit tree owners, volunteers, food banks and community organizations with the goal of fighting hunger and food waste in the Spokane area. SETP empowers local people in the area to share in the harvest and care of existing fruit & nut trees by implementing food recovery methods, in which volunteers harvest uncollected produce from residential homes and local growers, and distribute them to families/individuals in need. This organization envisions a thriving urban area (Spokane) where all people have access to healthy foods via locally acquired resources and are competent in the care 
and maintenance of fruit and nut trees.
In the past 3 years, the Spokane Edible Tree Project has harvested over 100,000 pounds of produce In Spokane County, which has then been distributed to food banks and food pantry’s, that may have otherwise gone to waste. This organizations aims to tackle hunger in Washington State, and does so by not only thru this program but others that this organization offers as well such as: Glean for Good, which is a program where community members donate their fresh produce and volunteer time to harvest. Reproduce 81, a program that collects unused food from school district and donates it to school pantries, hunger relief programs and food banks. As well as Educational classes/workshops that educate the community about topics such as fruit tree maintenance and food waste prevention.
There are many ways to partner or volunteer with this organization.
1. Become a Tree Scout: Tree scouts work in their own neighborhoods to register productive and underutilized fruit trees! SETP provides all the necessary training and materials, and this volunteer position runs from mid-June until the end of October.
2. Participate in a Glean: These events, which consist of gathering leftover grain or other produce after a harvest, are a fun and easy way to get involved with SETP. Harvest seasons begin late June until early November.
These two ways to partner can be great for both students and teachers alike, and can make for a very cool project! Both Tree Scouts and Participating in a Glean are great ways to get involved in an organization that makes a difference in the community.
