“Harvesting love and kindness can truly change people’s lives!”

When Rachel Landis saw unpicked fruit on trees in her community falling to the ground and left to rot, she couldn’t help but think of all the people unable to afford nutritious food for their families. Someone needs to do something, Rachel thought. Taking up the challenge, she founded a nonprofit to get hungry people the food they need!

- Jen Reeder

As Rachel Landis pedaled her bicycle to work one sunny day in 2017, she felt something squishing under her tires. Looking at the

ground, she couldn’t believe how many apples had fallen from trees and were rotting away. She also noticed there were lots more apples, plus plums and pears, that would soon fall off branches to wither.

What a waste! she thought.

Rachel knew a lot of people would love to have that fruit. There were many families all around Durango, Colorado, who couldn’t afford nutritious food, and the local pantry typically offered packaged, processed goods instead of healthy treats like apples.

Suddenly, Rachel flashed on Durango’s annual Apple Days Festival, the one day a year when people in the community would gather and harvest extra fruit from orchards and press it into juice in the town park.

There’s power in community! Rachel thought. Maybe we can come together to get the excess fruits and vegetables to people who need them. 

Fruits, veggies and love

Rachel hopped in her car and drove to thrift stores. She bought old orchard ladders, which she strapped to the top of her vehicle. Then she started knocking on doors.