From our Warehouse in VA to Mission Fields Worldwide
In March 2024, we shared a story of a remarkable donation received from a local book wholesaler, titled “Historic Bible Donation“. After a lengthy search to find a buyer for a large inventory of new and used Bibles, the company contacted Gleaning about the possibility of donating them. 40,000 pounds of Bibles… At first, the opportunity sounded almost too large to believe.
To confirm the details, Gleaning visited the warehouse to see the materials in person. There, thousands of Bibles were stacked in large cardboard boxes throughout the facility. It quickly became clear that this donation represented an opportunity to place an extraordinary number of Bibles into the hands of people who could truly use them.
Even though there was not yet a clear plan for how the Bibles would be distributed, Gleaning accepted the donation and transported the entire inventory to the organization’s warehouse in Concord, Virginia. Trusting that the right opportunity would emerge, the team moved forward in faith. It did not take long for the next step to appear.
Soon afterward, Gleaning was introduced to Steven Schmidt, founder of the nonprofit organization Love Packages. Since 1975, Love Packages has collected Bibles and Christian literature from across the United States and shipped them to a global network of distributors serving churches and ministries around the world.
During conversations with Steven, Gleaning learned something surprising. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pounds of Bibles and Christian materials are discarded and end up in landfills. The idea that Bibles could be thrown away is difficult for many people to imagine. Yet in many cases, excess inventory, outdated editions, or unused materials have nowhere to go.
Gleaning For The World is very familiar with this challenge. Much of the clothing, supplies, and goods the organization distributes come from corporate surplus. Retailers often have excess inventory, last season’s styles, or items with minor imperfections that cannot be sold. Without nonprofit partners willing to distribute them, these products would often end up in landfills.
But Bibles deserve a different outcome. Recognizing the opportunity, Gleaning quickly formed a partnership with Love Packages and began serving as a collection hub for Bibles and Christian literature across Virginia. Churches, libraries, families, and individuals can now donate their materials through Gleaning’s warehouse, where they are gathered and prepared for shipment. Two years later, what began as a 40k lbs donation has grown into an ongoing effort that has already collected more than 105,000 pounds of Bibles and Christian materials.
When the warehouse fills an entire tractor trailer with donations, Gleaning coordinates with Love Packages to send the truck on its way. The organization covers the cost of shipping because it believes strongly in placing these materials where they are truly needed.
One recent donation highlights just how meaningful this work can be. After a church building caught fire, an individual made the decision to enter the smoldering structure to rescue as many Bibles as possible. Although the covers were charred, the inside pages remained intact. Photos were sent to Love Packages to ask whether the Bibles could still be used. The response came quickly.
“This will be the best Bible someone will ever receive. Send them on.”
Stories like this remind us why our work matters. Today, Gleaning For The World continues collecting Bibles and Christian literature so they can be distributed to churches and ministries around the world that are eager to receive them. If you have usable Bibles, devotionals, or Christian books, they can be brought to Gleaning’s warehouse or shipped directly to Love Packages. Every box helps place God’s Word into the hands of people who are hungry for it. Supporters can also help cover the shipping costs required to move these materials around the world by designating their donation for Bible shipments by check or when making an online donation.
Through partnerships like this, Gleaning For The World continues working to ensure that valuable resources are not wasted but instead become tools of encouragement, faith, and transformation for communities across the globe.
In service and partnership,
