What happens to leftover food after a conference, gala, meeting or other event? Unfortunately, it’s often tossed – despite being perfectly edible.
Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization, is working to change that. They connect businesses and organizations with surplus food to people in communities who need it, including in Winnipeg – combatting food waste and hunger in a way that’s sustainable and eco-friendly.
“Our donors feel pride in sharing their surplus food, knowing that while supporting their local community, they’re also keeping the food out of landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” says Dawn Snook, Second Harvest’s Operations Manager for the Manitoba region.
Organizations sign up as donors, then use Second Harvest’s Mobile Food Rescue app to post when they have surplus food – choosing a non-profit group to donate to directly or offering it up to be claimed by any registered group who can come pick it up.
“It’s 100 per cent free, and it’s just as easy as walking outside to your blue bin and throwing it in there,” Snook explains.
In 2023 alone in Winnipeg, more than four million meals from 168 food donors were provided to people in need through about 250 non-profits, including schools, seniors’ centres, food banks and places where Winnipeg’s unhoused can go for a meal.
Repurposing extra food is a win-win for anyone from small restaurants to large banquet and event facilities – such as the RBC Convention Centre, which recently signed on with Second Harvest, Snook says.
“After meeting with them and talking about how easy it is to use the Food Rescue app, their executive chef has been posting and donating surplus event food, and it's been very well received.”
One memorable donation from an event at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights with a smaller-than-expected turnout stands out to Snook. She was contacted about the large amount of surplus food, which ended up going to Siloam Mission.
“I thought it was pretty fantastic that the same beautiful food our Premier and other dignitaries ate the night before is what our homeless in Winnipeg got to eat the next day for lunch.”
Work with Second Harvest to give your leftovers a new life next time you host a business event in Winnipeg. Get in contact with them and learn more by visiting secondharvest.ca.
