It was around 3 p.m. on a sunny Friday when a truck carrying 49,000 pounds of Dole’s fruit cups slowly rolled into Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank, having travelled hundreds of miles on the road and a two-hour long ferry ride to reach Nanaimo. Soon, these nourishing treats would find their way into the hands of 44 communities and children in need across Vancouver Island.
“This is one of the most requested items we get from clients and we’re looking forward to spreading these to people in need all over Vancouver Island,” Abby Sauchuk, Director of Development at Loaves & Fishes Food Bank said. “It is especially going to be appreciated by the children clients when they’re out of school and not receiving lunch and snacks through school over the summer.”
These fruit cups couldn’t have come at a better time. Icon International, a specialized finance company that helps businesses improve their asset efficiency, played a pivotal role in facilitating this donation. They collaborated with Second Harvest’s food rescue operations teams in Ontario and British Columbia in the entire process, from reserving the surplus stock to arranging the delivery terms.
When Second Harvest’s Ontario foodraising manager Maureen Kirkpatrick heard from ICON International that 40 pallets of surplus fruit cups were looking for a home, she knew it was an opportunity not to be missed. Having learned the terms and conditions of the delivery, she immediately contacted Shelley Lycan, our operations manager in British Columbia, for her recommendation of a suitable non-profit agency.
Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank’s large network of partners and storage capacity made them a perfect fit. They’re currently serving over 15,000 people in more than 44 communities, including 15 Indigenous communities in Vancouver Island. The organization operates several programs, including free food markets, hamper delivery for people who are medically unable to leave their house and free food for livestock or compost.
Transporting perishable goods across Canada’s vast and diverse landscape was no simple feat, but this heartwarming delivery was particularly challenging. Different parties across the supply chain were involved: Dole as the fruit cup manufacturer, ICON International as the broker, the logistic company as the courier and Second Harvest’s operations team as the connecting point with the non-profit.
At the other end of the process, Loaves & Fishes also works closely with their volunteers to make sure they have the manpower and resources for loading, storing and distributing the donation. Sometimes a donation could fall through if one of these connections broke down.
Because of this complexity, there were also many moving parts just hours prior to its arrival. Kirkpatrick recalled the uncertainty surrounding the delivery time, which was crucial for the food bank’s volunteer capacity. But despite the hurdles, the team’s perseverance paid off.
“Literally, the truck pulled in at 3 o’clock, just before the volunteers arrived at 4,” Kirkpatrick said with a relief.
Thanks to the dedication and collective efforts from ICON International and Loaves & Fishes, thousands of children on Vancouver Island will have access to nutritious snacks throughout the summer. It’s the incredible impact of community partnerships like this that will continue to drive us as we seek a more nourished future for all.
At Steinbach Family Resource Centre, there’s always a waitlist for the Little Family Garden program, where families are taught basic gardening skills and assigned a garden bed to tend to during summer. Also popular is their Kids in the Kitchen program, which tackles picking eating by giving children opportunities to create healthy recipes using a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Childhood and adolescence are important periods for the development of food literacy, which encompasses a range of skills and knowledge relating to food production, consumption and its impact on health and the environment, and the ability to make informed food choices. By engaging children in hands-on experiences with gardening and cooking, these programs help them develop practical knowledge about the food system and lay the foundation for healthy eating habits.
For example, a study done by Western University’s Human Environment’s Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) found that children with better food knowledge are likely to consume more fruits and vegetables, which are crucial in preventing lifestyle-related chronic disease and maintaining overall health.
Some components of food literacy are acquired since young, such as enjoyment of healthy food and positive emotional association with shared meals, while some are developed later in life, like the critical thinking skills to analyze information and recognize social, economic, and environmental aspects of the food systems. Here are some activities that parents and educators can engage children in at home and at school to improve food literacy.
Developing food literacy at home
Cooking together: Involve children in meal preparation to teach them about ingredients, cooking methods and kitchen safety. Start with simple recipes like salads, sandwiches, or smoothies, and gradually introduce more complex dishes.
Grocery shopping: Turn shopping trips into learning experiences. Discuss the different food groups, read labels together, and talk about where foods come from. Encourage children to pick out a new fruit or vegetable to try each week.
Meal planning: Involve children in planning weekly meals. Discuss balanced nutrition, portion sizes and the importance of variety. Use this opportunity to teach budgeting and smart shopping strategies.
Reading together: Explore books and resources about food and nutrition. Choose age-appropriate materials that explain concepts in an engaging and accessible way.
Developing food literacy at school
School gardens: Establish a school garden where students can learn about plant life cycles, sustainable farming practices and the benefits of fresh produce. Gardens provide a hands-on learning experience that can be integrated into science, math, and health education.
Farm-to-School programs: Organize field trips to farms so students can see first-hand how food is grown and harvested.
Nutrition education: Integrate nutrition education into the curriculum. Use interactive activities like taste tests, food experiments and discussions about food choices and their impacts on health and the environment.
Cultural food days: Celebrate the diversity of food by exploring dishes from different cultures. This broadens children’s palates and fosters an appreciation for global food traditions.
For many children, summer is the most exciting time of the year. However, for families struggling with food insecurity, it becomes a season of increased stress and difficult choices. Without access to the student nutrition program, parents often find themselves stretching already tight budgets to provide additional meals at home.
Luckily, many organizations that Second Harvest supports have stepped up to fill this critical gap, working hand-in-hand with community partners to ensure no child goes hungry all year round, including the summer months.
Let’s take a closer look at what some of our partners are doing to make summer the best season for children and youth across the country.
The Boys and Girls Club Sarnia-Lambton offers a wide variety of programs for children and youth aged 4-18 in Sarnia and the surrounding county, including after-school programs, summer day camps, and specialized initiatives like S.T.E.A.M Ahead and Kid Food Nation.
This boys and girls club runs their summer camp in three locations, serving 120 campers per day. Children and their families can also access food without barrier when they participate in the program, which includes weekly field trips and recreational activities to improve essential life skills and knowledge of personal health and nutrition.
The food rescues we receive all go back to our families to promote food security and ease the financial impact that comes with inflation. We never want our families to go hungry or struggle to find where the next meal is coming from.
The Clearview Youth Centre serves youth throughout Clearview Township grades six to twelve. Their summer programming runs during the day and gives youth a place to hang out, participate in fun activities and receive valuable resources. They pride themselves in being able to offer youth new opportunities and access to free and low barrier programs and outings.
The centre uses rescued food for their free meals, pantry and various snack programs. The variety of treats are also given as prizes or incentives.
Our giving pantry has helped a variety of our families through food insecurity. The types of food we have received are fresh bread and baked goods, meat, non-perishable items, health and beauty products, cleaning products, plus more. We have also been able to make a ripple effect by passing along baby items to our local Emergency Baby Needs Depot and other items to the Food Bank. We have also used donations to run holiday gift drives to help our families. We are proud of the impact these donations have had on the families we serve.
Steinbach Family Resource Centre serves the community of Steinbach and the surrounding Southeast Manitoba area, providing a wide range of essential resources for parents and their children, from clothing, dietary consultation to pregnancy support. Families and their children attending their summer food programming have access to food items that are donated through Second Harvest and other community partners. Their summer program includes:
Little Family Garden provides each family with a small garden bed. They’ll learn basic gardening skills to take care of their share for the entire season.
Kids in the Garden is catered to children aged 4-7. The purpose is to create positive experiences and attachment with their caregivers while promoting the benefits of planting, growing and eating the fruits of their labour.
Kids in the Kitchen creates opportunity for children aged 6-12 to get a hands-on experience in creating new, unique and healthy recipes, trying food items that they may not otherwise attempt.
“Food rescue has become an integral part of the resources we offer to families on a regular basis, and has contributed to the growth of our organization, from serving 350 families in 2019-2020 to 650 families in 2023-2024. This is almost double since the ongoing challenges and economic struggle of the pandemic.”
Second Harvest is humbled by the incredible support we receive to fight food insecurity and reduce our country’s environmental footprint. We had the chance to ask a few questions to Alison Pozzobon, Head of Communications and Interim Head of Government Affairs and Market Access at GSK Canada, which positively impacts communities with their tremendous work in the areas of health for the people, innovators for the future and health for the planet.
What inspired GSK Canada to partner with Second Harvest?
At GSK, we are looking at the interconnections between climate, nature and health. So, we were inspired by Second Harvest’s approach to hunger relief and sustainability, and dedication to making a positive social impact on communities across the country. Our employees’ input also contributed to the selection of Second Harvest as a partner of choice in sustainability.
Our collaboration with Second Harvest marks an expansion into environmental sustainability for us, and we’re excited about the positive outcomes this will bring to both people and our planet. We strongly support community health through partnerships with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) and Health Partners International Canada (HPIC). We also provide funding for emergency preparedness and disaster relief to Save the Children (STC) Canada for Indigenous children and their families who are at risk of natural disasters.
How does supporting Second Harvest reflect GSK’s values?
We believe that reducing our environmental impact and strengthening people’s health are the best ways to contribute to sustainable and responsible outcomes across the country. Second Harvest’s vision aligns with our values of creating equal opportunities for everyone to have access to a healthier life. We partner with like-minded organizations and apply our strengths in areas that can most positively impact people over the long term.
What does “No Waste. No Hunger” mean to GSK?
We are fortunate to be in a position where we can make a difference for those in need and are proud to play a role in improving community health as well as taking action to protect and restore the environment.
Climate change is a major issue in Canada, with avoidable food waste as a key contributor, and hunger is gaining ground in Canada while nearly half of all food produced is never eaten and ends up in landfills. In this context, we are thrilled to support Second Harvest’s vision No Waste. No Hunger and contribute to ambitious targets for food rescue while protecting our planet.
Tell us more about GSK’s employee volunteering and environmental sustainability initiatives. What drives your commitment to corporate social responsibility and community support?
At GSK Canada, we want to play our part in protecting and restoring the planet’s health and we are committed to giving back because we believe it is the right thing to do — whether that be through volunteering with local charities or partnering with organizations such as Second Harvest.
As an example of our collaborations, over the past eight years, GSK Canada employees and Save The Children have helped assemble 11,000+ backpacks for emergency preparedness and resiliency in addition to volunteering at local charities. We also seek employees’ input on the selection of new philanthropic partners and encourage participation in employee events in support of communities. We strongly believe that we are all accountable for impact and this guides our volunteering efforts.
How has supporting Second Harvest impacted your team and your greater community?
Our partnership with Second Harvest is brand new and we are excited to collaborate with them to achieve our ambitious Canadian objectives while raising awareness about food waste, both at work and at home. Since announcing our partnership, many employees have already asked how to get involved. This is off to a very promising start!
In a nondescript standard-size container in Scarborough, Ontario, rows of lush lettuce and fragrant basil flourish in nutrient-rich water, illuminated by the gentle hum of LED lights. This compact, soil-free farm buzzes with life, defying the wintery breezes outside. In about two more weeks, over 30 pounds of greens will be harvested, some on their way to restaurants and hotels, some showing up in meals and groceries distributed to families in need in the surrounding communities.
Taking care of the farm is the small but almighty team at 5N2, a multi-program food charity and a partner of Second Harvest that has been serving marginalized communities in Scarborough since 2013. Besides the meal program that provides over 4,200 meals every week, 5N2 also runs a pantry with staple items that they redirect to other communities through their charity partners or deliver to those with physical or mental limitations.
The idea first came about in 2020. With support from donors and students from the Canadian summer job program, 5N2 cleaned up a rocky patch of land near their old office and started planting a variety of produce. Within a few months, the organization harvested over 800 pounds of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, zucchini and others, which they used in their meal preparation and gave out to clients. Seeing this beautiful food and how the community came together inspired founder and executive director Seema David to look into ways to grow produce all year round, regardless of seasonal patterns.
Her curiosity led her to hydroponic farming, a method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water solutions to deliver essential nutrients directly to the roots. This system, often housed in controlled environments with LED lighting and regulated temperature and humidity, allows for year-round cultivation in urban and non-arable areas.
What also draws her to hydroponic farming is its benefits, among which is the bountiful yield with minimal footprint on the environment. Compared to traditional farming, hydroponic methods use up to 90% less water and land area. By eliminating soil, it also reduces the risk of soil-borne diseases and pests and the need for pesticides.
After various administrative and resource challenges, 5N2’s hydroponic farm finally went into operation late last year, growing a variety of lettuce, mustard greens and basil. The produce garnered positive responses from their partner restaurants, who take great pride in knowing their supply comes locally and 5N2’s mission to feed people experiencing food insecurity.
Individual consumers can also shop for 5N2’s produce on their website to support their mission. Every purchase of $15 will help provide two free meals to a community member and every purchase of $50 means a family will receive two bags of groceries.
Running the organization on a no-question-asked basis, David believes the farm offers ways for 5N2 to be self-reliant.
“If a child comes and says to me ‘I’m hungry,’ I’m not going to ask the child and the mother why. I will give them the food first,” she said. “The farm is how we sustain this work.”
David’s vision for the farm extends beyond mere sustenance. It also serves as an educational tool to demonstrate urban farming practices to students and community members. Already 5N2 is working on a curriculum and engaging with the University of Toronto Scarborough and Centennial College. The hope is to inspire a new generation to consider the benefits of hydroponic farming and the importance of sustainable food production.
“That is our mission right now: educate people on healthy eating and urban farming,” David said.
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