Editor’s Notes: This article was originally published in September 2023 and has since been updated with the latest statistics and information on food insecurity.
Every year, we dedicate September to raising awareness about hunger and finding solutions to tackling food insecurity. This Hunger Action Month we’re focused on action. Want to get involved and make a difference in the lives of millions of people in Canada facing food insecurity?
While food insecurity can happen to anyone, some groups in the population are at higher risk than others, including recent immigrants, Indigenous communities and people from racialized groups, according to the 2023 Hunger Count report by Food Banks Canada.
Food insecurity is closely connected to physical, mental and social well-being, but children are especially vulnerable. A study published in theCanadian Medical Association Journal showed that children growing up in food-insecure households are more likely to access support services for mental health or substance abuse.
2. Volunteer
Volunteers play an important role in many non-profits’ operations. Even spending a few hours a month volunteering in your local community can make a difference. No amount of help is too small! Before starting, make sure to attend an information session to learn more about the organization and the positions that suit your skills and interests.
Second Harvest welcomes individual and group volunteers all year-round for food sorts, events and administrative support. To become a Second Harvest volunteer, submit an application here.
3. Donate
Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the millions of people in Canada facing food insecurity with a secure one-time donation. This is your invitation to join our mission – take a stand against hunger today!
Taking action against hunger isn’t just about providing sustenance; it’s a hard-fought battle against waste. Letting good food end up in landfills doesn’t make sense when 8.7 million Canadians struggle to eat.
The first step to food waste prevention begins at home. All it takes is as simple as shopping for only what you need or making a small change in how you store your produce.
If you’re running a food business, sign up as a donor on the Second Harvest Food Rescue App. It’s a quick and easy process to connect directly with non-profits in the local community and redirect surplus food to those who need it the most. You can also see the impact of your donation through the app, including the number of meals provided and pounds of greenhouse gases averted from the atmosphere.
5. Advocate
Advocacy involves keeping yourself informed about policies affecting food security and the food system, adopting a solution-focused mindset and sharing your knowledge with the community around you.
You can also reach out to your elected officials to show your support for policies that make life more affordable. That includes improving access to housing, nutritious food, as well as ensuring living wages for everyone.
From July 5-14, over 22,000 visitors stopped by the Second Harvest Food Rescue Experience at the Calgary Stampede to learn more about food rescue and the difference they can make in the fight against food insecurity and climate change. At the end of the event, our team worked with the organizers and Community Kitchen Program of Calgary, the second-largest food bank in Calgary, to rescue over 13,000 pounds of good surplus food.
Demystifying best before dates to reduce food waste
One of the highlights of the Second Harvest Food Rescue Experience was the immersive digital game “Taste or Toss,” which engaged every visitor as they entered the space. This educational game challenged participants to guess how far past best-before dates various food items are still safe to consume and provided them with tangible knowledge to reduce food waste. Its entertaining elements also made retaining the information easier.
We were delighted to see the number of correct answers the participants got and their enthusiasm in supporting our mission in reducing food waste.
Educational gallery and food rescue showcase
Adjacent to the interactive game, the educational gallery provided an in-depth look at the food system and reasons food is lost or wasted along the supply chain through the lifecycle of a tomato from farm to fork. Guests learned about the social and environmental impacts of food waste and Second Harvest’s ongoing efforts to address these critical issues. They also saw first-hand what rescued food could look like: Perfectly edible fruits and vegetables in odd shape that would end up in landfills without the support of our network of donors and partners.
Rescuing surplus food
We ended the Calgary Stampede on a high note with the rescue of 13,010 pounds of surplus food from the event organizers and other food business participants. Through our local partner, Community Kitchen Program of Calgary, the food was then distributed to over 60 non-profit agencies across the city.
Kori Stosky, sustainability specialist at the Calgary Stampede, echoed the sentiment.
“2024 was a successful year for the Stampede in many ways, with one highlight being the ability to give back locally through food donations. Numerous groups, ranging from our Stampede Culinary team, through to midway vendors and local sponsors donated everything from huge beef roasts, to candied apples, heaps of fresh produce and more,” she said. “We are grateful to work with partners like Second Harvest who can expand our reach to the community, support with coordination, and help create positive impact by getting rescuable food to people who need and will benefit from it.”
At Second Harvest, our volunteers provide vital support for our mission and inspire us each day with their dedication to creating a better community for all. Let’s meet some of the remarkable individuals who contribute their time and enrich our organization with their diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Blair Scott: a writer with a passion for community
Blair Scott, a freelance writer based in Brampton, has been volunteering at Second Harvest since August 2023. She began her journey in a food sort, where the strong sense of community inspired her to take on more responsibilities.
In her role as an individual giving admin assistant, Blair writes thank-you cards to donors, participates in calling campaigns like Donor Love and Thank-A-Thon and assists the philanthropy team with various projects. Blair’s responsibilities also include writing scripts for calls and updating donor contact information. She spends about three hours a week at the Second Harvest’s office and occasionally dedicates up to ten hours during special campaigns and events.
“I just think people who can volunteer should. I think as a society, it’s really important for us to donate our time and consider that to be a normal part of living — helping where you can, if you can, when you can,” Blair said.
Her most memorable experience at Second Harvest was participating in the Feeding Our Future program last year. Despite being short-handed, her team managed to pull through so more than 730 sandwiches could be delivered on time to kids attending summer camps across Toronto.
Blair’s volunteering journey has also been a professional development opportunity. The connections she’s made at Second Harvest and their advice and encouragement have helped shape her career path in fundraising and philanthropy. She’s learned to use the Raiser’s Edge database and is pursuing a fundraising certificate at George Brown College.
Blair’s advice to other volunteers is to maintain their enthusiasm and believe in the impact of their work, no matter how small the task may seem.
Shreya Banerjee: leading with heart and positive energy
Shreya Banerjee (right) discussing with a co-lead before a food sort shift.
Shreya Banerjee’s connection with Second Harvest began serendipitously at an event, where she was captivated by a speech by our CEO, Lori Nikkel. Lori’s leadership and commitment to food rescue deeply resonated with Shreya, leading her to do more research about Second Harvest and eventually signing up to be a volunteer.
“Wasting food was not an option in our household,” Shreya said, adding that combating food insecurity is also a cause close to her heart.
In May, Shreya embarked on her volunteer journey, starting with a community food sort. Her natural ability to lead, organizational skill and her attention to detail quickly earned her a recommendation for a food sort lead position, a role she now thoroughly enjoys.
As a lead, Shreya’s responsibilities include checking in volunteers, assisting with training sessions and overseeing the sorting process. Her meticulous approach ensures a smooth operation, whether it’s packing produce or sorting cans. Shreya’s leadership skills shine through as she adeptly manages teams, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently while maintaining high morale among volunteers.
Shreya’s most memorable experiences was assisting in the Spiniko’s interactive game station at the 2024 Truck Pull Challenge. Drawing on her background in learning design and corporate training, she reconfigured the game setup to significantly increase foot traffic and engagement.
“I was able to make that little difference, so that made me really happy,” she said.
Volunteering with Second Harvest has been a fulfilling experience for Shreya. It has not only allowed her to stay connected with her professional skills but also reinforced her personal values of minimizing food waste and helping those in need.
Colin Sbert and Jacob Dychiao: making the most of the summer
Colin Sbert (second from left) and Jacob Dychiao (second from right) in a food sort shift.
Highschoolers Colin Sbert and Jacob Dychiao are two close friends who found a rewarding way to spend their summer: volunteering at Second Harvest. Since July, they’ve spent about six hours a week in community food sorts and Feeding Our Future’s sandwich-making shifts.
From the outset, both were impressed by the welcoming and friendly environment at Second Harvest.
Colin said: “It’s probably my favorite place I’ve volunteered so far. The people are nice here too.” Jacob echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the positive energy and supportive atmosphere that made volunteering enjoyable.
One of the most impactful aspects of their experience was the opportunity to connect with others. Both Jacob and Colin found it easy to make friends at Second Harvest. The inclusive environment encouraged them to socialize with people of all ages, improving their communication skills and reducing any initial shyness they had. They also enjoyed sharing conversations with other volunteers and gaining insights from their life stories and career choices. The camaraderie was a highlight as well. The duo has made tasks more fun by turning them into a game and invited others to join for a little friendly competition.
Learning about the magnitude of food insecurity and food waste in Canada has deepened their appreciation for the impact of what they do.
“By spreading mayonnaise on a sandwich or making sure a carrot doesn’t go to waste, I’m just helping somebody in such a small way,” Jacob said. “That’s meaningful to me personally.”
If you’re inspired by the stories of Blair, Shreya Colin, and Jacob, we invite you to join our community of dedicated volunteers. Together, we’ll keep food where it belongs: on plates and out of landfills.
Time seems to fly by at Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women (ehcw), and when school’s out in June, the day gets even more hectic. In addition to their regular programming, the organization becomes a social place for about 50 kids and youth in the Northwest Toronto communities to meet and learn with their peers. They draw, dance, sing, solve math problems and attend workshops to protect themselves against human trafficking.
“As soon as summer comes, we are mindful that children could be out on the street in a very unsafe environment. We reach out to schools and ask them to talk to the parents. If they don’t know how to engage with their children [about youth vulnerability], send them here,” Sunder Singh, ehcw’s Executive Director, said. “So the youth are coming here summertime, every year.”
For over 30 years, ehcw has been providing a sense of comfort and security for many refugees and newcomers to Canada, as well as seniors and women facing domestic violence. Community members in need can receive clothing and help for their settlement and employment needs, all free of charge. With food support from Second Harvest, ehcw also offers groceries to families in the community and refreshments to all participants in their programs.
According to ehcw, children and youth are at an increased risk of human trafficking. Helping them gain awareness and communicate concerns with adults is particularly important, even more so for those whose parents are newcomers and refugees.
The organization tailors its approach based on age groups with education on personal safety, stranger danger and how to recognize and report suspicious activities. For older participants, the program offers more intense training, including video presentations and discussions with law enforcement officers and survivors.
Thanks to these activities, the local community was once alerted of a suspicious individual giving out candies to kids after a youth attending ehcw’s program noticed and reported the incident to the centre.
“They don’t realize that they’re learning every day,” Singh said. “They’re taking something with them, and that becomes part of their skill assets.”
Between learning activities, ehcw provides participants with fruits and vegetables as refreshments. They also have daily access to lunch packed by volunteers of Second Harvest’s Feeding Our Future program, which started in 2000 to bridge the nutrition gap from June to September.
“The children love it,” Singh said, adding that egg salad sandwiches and roast beef sandwiches are their favourite.
Without this support from Feeding Our Future, Singh said the organization would have to purchase ingredients and make the meals themselves to ensure that all are properly fed and can fully enjoy their time there.
Participants in ehcw’s summer programs range from 10 years old to 20 years old, but despite the wide age gap, they all get along well, Singh said. The older kids take on a mentoring role, teaching science, English and math to the younger ones and inspiring them with their career and education plans. They’re also involved in sorting and distributing food hampers for ehcw’s community programs.
“There’s a great sense of satisfaction among them.” Singh said.
ehcw aims to instill a sense of responsibility in children and youth, encouraging them to take their education seriously and find purpose in their job if they’re of working age. The summer program is a critical part of this mission, providing a safe space for learning and growth.
“Our message with the youth is to never sit idle,” Singh said.
Feeding Our Future runs from July 2 to August 23 this year, providing lunches to 22 camps across Toronto.
Watermelons are not only a delicious summer treat but also incredibly versatile. The juicy flesh is the most consumed part, but did you know that every part of the watermelon can be eaten? Here’s to adopting a no-waste approach to using this fruit! It not only reduces food waste but also enhances your culinary creativity.
Flesh
Cut the watermelon flesh into cubes for a refreshing snack. If you have leftovers or less-than-perfect watermelon, blend the flesh with some ice, mint and a squeeze of lime to make a cooling smoothie or freeze the mixture to make a refreshing sorbet.
Watermelon can also star in savoury dishes: Combine the cubes with feta cheese, mint and a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a savoury-sweet salad. Or make watermelon gazpacho for a refreshing summer soup.
By using all parts of the watermelon, you not only enjoy a variety of delicious and nutritious treats but also contribute to reducing food waste. Embrace these sustainable practices and surprise your friends and family when you serve them these dishes. Next time, think twice before tossing those rinds and seeds!
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