Community Composting
As an expansion of our Suncoast Gleaning Project, Suncoast Fruit Rescue was created as a means to collect excess or unharvested local fruit from our community members’ trees to donate to area food pantries, charitable groups, and shelters.
Our goal is to maintain a waste-free community ecosystem by diverting this excess bounty of tree fruit, typically left to rot on sidewalks and in backyards, to fulfill a better purpose of nourishing our area’s food-insecure.
Community members are invited to drop off food scraps at our public stations in Arlington Park, Gillespie Park, The Meadows (Meadows' residents only), and at WSLR+Fogartyville. These sites are maintained through community contributions, and while donations are encouraged, they’re not required. Additional drop-off sites are located in the Pinecraft neighborhood and at Limelight Community Garden. Contact programs@sunshinecommunityharvest.org for site access details, instructions, or to learn more! Drop-off sites are locked and required access codes for use.
How It Works
![fruit-gleaning-project-[1800x1350]-web.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69e644c9565427573dc64c52/1776698662140-HSZFATJTGP89AU1BMX4L/fruit-gleaning-project-%5B1800x1350%5D-web.jpeg)
Register it.
Local residents opt to register their local backyard or community fruit tree(s) into our online database, selecting their preferred harvest option.
Harvest it.
Trees can be harvested by the registrar themself or elect to have our volunteers harvest the fruit for you!
![gleaned-tangerines-for-donation-[1800x1350]-web.JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69e644c9565427573dc64c52/1776698662169-X8IKJV7JEC2LWSLFC1M0/gleaned-tangerines-for-donation-%5B1800x1350%5D-web.JPG)
Benefit.
At no cost to you, the excess fruit is collected, the fruit tree does not attract unwanted pests, and you keep your portion of the harvest along with a tax-deductible donation receipt.