The Canadian food system is one of the most wasteful in the world. We throw out a quarter of our fresh food and release about 21 million tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, just in food waste.
On May 17, Julia Kraemer, Winnipeg City Coordinator for the Leftovers Foundation, was the guest speaker at the St. Charles Ladies’ Association general meeting and potluck.
The Leftovers Foundation is a registered charity founded in Calgary in 2012 and is Western Canada’s largest charitable food redirection organization. The Leftovers program reduces food waste by picking up food from stores and restaurants and delivering it to service agencies such as food banks, community housing initiatives, and shelters. These service agencies receiving donated food can redirect funding from their grocery bills into education and rehabilitation programs.
“In 2022, Leftovers in Winnipeg diverted 539,123 pounds of food from the landfill and provided 460,262 meals. It had 34 food donators and 53 active volunteers.”
Leftovers is a non-profit and does not charge donors or recipients for food rescue and services. Donors have the satisfaction of knowing they are making a valuable contribution to those in need in the community. Every province in Canada has a law that protects a business or organization from liability when donating good food.
Leftovers is currently operating a Home Harvest Program in Winnipeg. This program connects community members who have excess produce from backyard gardens to service agencies in need.
Volunteers can
connect with donors
rescue food before it ends up in the landfill
redirect rescued food to service agencies
For more information check out the website rescuefood.ca.
If you would like to help in any way, please contact Julia Kraemer, Winnipeg City Coordinator juliakraemer@rescuefood.ca or call Julia at 204-770-3303.
Julia is thanked by St. Charles Ladies’ Association President Elect Kim Zapotchny.