Everybody works hard to earn a living and to provide for themselves and others. In terms of a gleaning program, this includes the volunteers in the fields, food banks, and everyone in between. When a farmer has planned a season in advance, purchased from seed, given time to grow, hours of direct attention, physical space, water, fertilizer, a good weeding or two, and then donated, you better be sure a thank you is in order. A thank you can take many forms but never goes unnoticed. You’ll run into many people who will express the importance of maintaining relationships and program sustainability and they’ll be right. Throughout the gleaning season, a farmer should know the value they are adding to the community. The Program Coordinator and any gleaners involved can share appreciation at any time. A thank you card or note at the end of the season is always a good bet as well. Be sincere and personal. An automated thank you is like a display gift, pretty paper but nothing inside.