The gleaners organization purchase or receive donations of thousands of pounds of fresh, dry, canned and frozen food; household essentials; and personal hygiene products each month. The goods come from local farmers as well as food producers and distributors with whom Mosell has developed relationships with over the years. Private financial donations are used to supplement the goods donations.

“I do a lot of bartering and whole lot of asking,” said Mosell.

The collected items are distributed in Oroville, Palermo, Thermalito, Paradise, Magalia and the Concow area by the Gleaners non profit organization and other nonprofits including churches that do outreach programs. Among those who are served either directly or indirectly are the unhoused, any and all fire victims; the unemployed; those who have been impacted by the pandemic; essential workers; seniors and anyone suffering from food scarcity and homelessness.

“We offer food and resources to more than 30 organizations that currently give out food to the public that we provide food for,” said Mosell.

We currently are distributing between 150 - 600 boxes a week which are distributed to the unhoused with another 150 - 200 boxes going to families whose children are home schooled or attending virtual school due to the pandemic. The gleaners also prepack boxes of food that include dairy products, produce and meats (when available) that are distributed directly to people through the warehouse facility and, most recently, during Saturday food giveaways for victims of the North Complex West Zone fires.

For Pat Lawrence, a senior on fixed income who also “feeds cancer patients,” the food she gathers from the warehouse makes a huge difference.

I love these people. They are servants of God and a blessing from God. They help the community so much. I am very grateful to them,” said Lawrence.

All in all, Dalton estimates that the gleaners provide food to “500 to 600 people and families” each week.

“Anyone in need can come to the warehouse five days a week and we will help you. This is what we do, we help people. No one in need will be turned away — ever,” said Dalton.

While Mosell and his team are anxious to return to Paradise it may be a while before they can raise enough money for a new facility, but whenever the Paradise Gleaners do get to “go home,” Mosel said they will continue to operate a facility in Oroville because of “the need we see and the location is convenient and easy for deliveries and distribution.”

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