This year, The Gleaning Project has expanded our creative output and community impact. We’ve partnered with eight participants—referred by The Salvation Army, Restore NYC, Nora House, All Angels’ Pathways program, and members of our unhoused and immigrant communities—to craft more than a dozen upcycled purses from reclaimed plastic bags. In June, we’ll debut our Chelsea art show, “Coverings: An Exploration of Plastic, Fashion, and Humanity,” featuring these purses as wearable pieces alongside sculptural installations. We’ve also deepened our collaboration with Restore and All Angels’ Pathways to pursue Hope for NY grants to grow our participant base and extend our skills‑building initiatives. We’ve hosted two weekly workshops throughout the year, empowering individuals to transform waste into art while fostering meaningful community building.