Environmental studies and sociology major Shannon McCabe ’17  is earning high praise for implementing what she describes as a “simple, elegant solution” to Maine’s hunger problem.

According to an article in The Forecaster, McCabe and her team of volunteers have “gleaned” more than 3,200 pounds of vegetables over the last two months, enabling the food to go toward various hunger initiatives. The term “glean” in this case means to redirect a farm’s surplus crop—produce deemed to be unmarketable, but still nevertheless perfectly edible—to places where it won’t go to waste, such as food pantries.

McCabe is the recipient of a Denning Summer Fellowship, awarded by Bowdoin College’s Joseph McKeen Center for the Common Good. The fellowship is designed for students who already have a foundation in community engagement, and are seeking an in-depth experience working on a public issue of interest related to their academic major.