Legacy giving, also known as planned giving, is a philanthropic act in which individuals include a charitable organization in their estate plans. This thoughtful and impactful approach to giving ensures that one’s values and support for important causes continue even after their lifetime. Through legacy giving, donors have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on causes they care about, while also potentially receiving financial benefits such as tax advantages.
What is legacy giving?
Legacy giving is a way to support charitable organizations by leaving a gift in your will or estate plan. These gifts can come in various forms:
Bequests: Donors can leave a specific amount of money, a percentage of their estate, or a particular asset (such as real estate or securities) to an organization in their will.
Beneficiary designations: Individuals can name a charitable organization as a beneficiary of their retirement accounts, life insurance policies or other assets.
Charitable trusts: Trusts allow donors to make a gift to charity while still receiving income from the trust during their lifetime.
Charitable gift annuities: This arrangement allows donors to provide a gift to an organization in exchange for a fixed income for life.
Benefits of legacy giving
Lasting impact: Legacy gifts enable donors to leave a lasting legacy that can benefit future generations and continue their support for a cause they believe in.
Tax advantages: Depending on the type of gift and the donor’s financial situation, there may be potential tax benefits such as estate tax deductions.
Flexibility: Donors have the flexibility to choose the type of gift that best aligns with their financial and estate planning goals.
Peace of mind: Knowing that their estate will contribute to a cause they care about can provide donors with peace of mind and a sense of fulfillment.
Resources and tips for getting involved in legacy giving
Identify causes you care about: Reflect on the causes that matter most to you and consider how your legacy gift can support these organizations.
Consult with professionals: It’s essential to consult with financial advisors, estate planning attorneys and tax professionals to ensure your legacy gift aligns with your overall estate plan and financial goals.
Discuss with loved ones: Share your plans with your family and loved ones to ensure they understand your intentions and the impact of your gift.
Reach out to charitable organizations: Contact the organizations you wish to support to learn about their legacy giving programs and how your gift can make a difference.
Review and update your plans: As your life circumstances change, periodically review and update your legacy giving plans to ensure they continue to reflect your wishes.
Legacy giving is a meaningful way to support causes close to your heart and leave a lasting impact on the world. By understanding the options and benefits available, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your values and goals.
This information is general in nature, does not constitute legal or financial advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. We strongly encourage you to seek professional legal, estate planning and/or financial advice before deciding on your course of action.
For more information on making a legacy donation, please contact our Senior Manager of Philanthropy, Natasha Bowes, natashab@secondharvest.caor 647-612-6597.
A clean kitchen isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s a key player in keeping your food fresh longer and minimizing food waste. With a few simple cleaning hacks, you can transform your kitchen into a tidy, organized oasis that preserves your groceries and helps reduce food waste.
Declutter, group and label
Start your pantry cleaning journey by decluttering. Remove everything from your pantry shelves and carefully inspect each item for signs of spoilage or expiration.
Transfer opened packages of flour, sugar, rice and nuts from their original packaging into airtight containers to protect them from moisture, pests and staleness. Clear containers are ideal as they allow you to see the contents at a glance and monitor their freshness. Be sure to label each container with the item and expiration date for easy reference.
Consider using a rotating system to ensure older items are used before newer ones to minimize waste.
Optimize vertical space
Install adjustable shelves or use stackable bins to take advantage of vertical space and maximize storage capacity. Consider a door organizer or hanging baskets to store smaller items such as spices, condiments and snacks. By utilizing vertical space, you can keep your pantry organized and easily accessible, reducing the likelihood of items getting lost or forgotten.
Deep cleaning your fridge
Empty out the contents of your fridge and remove all shelves, drawers and door bins. Wash them with warm, soapy water, rinse thoroughly and allow them to air dry. Wipe down the interior surfaces of your fridge with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar to remove stains, spills and odours. Once everything is sparkling clean, reassemble your fridge.
Freshening agents
Say goodbye to funky fridge odours by placing an open box of baking soda on one of the shelves. Baking soda acts as a natural odour absorber, neutralizing unpleasant smells and keeping your fridge smelling fresh.
Alternatively, place a small bowl of activated charcoal or coffee grounds in your fridge. You can also use citrus peels or a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract to add a pleasant fragrance to your fridge. Replace these freshening agents every few weeks to maintain their effectiveness.
Organize your fridge wisely
Keep perishable items, such as meats and dairy products, on the lower shelves where temperatures are coldest. Store fruits and vegetables in the crisper drawer, using separate compartments for each to prevent them from ripening too quickly.
Consider investing in reusable storage containers to keep leftovers and prepped ingredients organized and visible, reducing the likelihood of them getting forgotten and going to waste.
It’s time to roll up your sleeves, grab your cleaning supplies and give your kitchen the TLC it deserves! Your taste buds and the planet will thank you.
In Bay St George South on the west coast of Newfoundland, The Three Rivers Mi’kmaq Band Inc., a non-profit Indigenous service provider, has been diligently working to support its 1,100 residents. Located approximately 75 km from the nearest service town and 120 km from the nearest city, this community’s isolation makes access to essential resources, including food, a significant challenge.
This organization and many others like it play an important role in bridging the gap between healthy food and people living in remote communities. With the help of volunteers and in collaboration with Second Harvest, they deliver non-perishable groceries and frozen food to anyone who needs it.
“The most beautiful aspect of the food distribution is seeing the community come together. Individuals who receive food share that food,” Chief Margaret White of The Three Rivers Mi’kmaq Band, said. “Our community makes sure every member has food over several months.”
Food insecurity in remote communities is a complex challenge that requires collaboration among many stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profits and Indigenous groups. As a charitable partner of Farm Credit Canada (FCC), Second Harvest is grateful for their $500,000 donation through the Drive Away Hunger initiative which aims to make nutrition more accessible in rural and remote areas.
For two decades, Drive Away Hunger has connected donors in the agriculture and food industry with charitable food security agencies in hopes of creating long-term, sustainable relationships. Marking its 20th anniversary in 2023, FCC matched $1 million in new donations to provide over 140 million meals to those in need.
“This year’s remarkable total is a testament to the considerable hard work and support provided by exceptional partners across Canada,” Justine Hendricks, FCC president and CEO, said. “More than ever, we are seeing producers, processors, distributors and grocers addressing food waste and helping feed Canadians in need. The Canadian food system has come together through Drive Away Hunger and the results this year prove we are stronger together.”
A big thank you to FCC and all of the agriculture and food companies who participated in Drive Away Hunger for your generous support and commitment to fighting food waste and hunger with us. We look forward to reaching more communities across Canada to ensure everyone has access to the essential nutrition they need.
Editor’s Note: Second Harvest recognizes volunteers who have demonstrated dedication to our mission through their support with The Essential Harvester Award, one of the categories in the annual Food Rescue Awards event.
This year’s nominees were Jim Kotowich, Nicole Caguiat and Joe Davidson, all of whom have made a significant impact on our success as an organization. Here, we spotlight the story of Joe Davidson, the winner of the 2024 Essential Harvester Award.
While Joe Davidson and his wife were volunteering at a food bank in the Annex, they would often see a Second Harvest delivery truck. That piqued Joe’s interest, and after learning more about the organization’s mission, he signed up to be a volunteer without hesitation.
“Food rescue addresses two of my primary concerns: food insecurity and climate change,” Joe said.
Joe’s support couldn’t have come at a better time. It was early 2022—pandemic restrictions were slowly easing and Second Harvest just started to expand our community of volunteers. Following an initial call with the organization, Joe took the initiative to create a volunteer management system from scratch, drawing on his skills and experience working with Excel and data in the aviation industry.
Since August 2022, Joe has spent over 500 hours on building and improving this system with Second Harvest’s volunteer services team. The result is a comprehensive database that covers the entire volunteer cycle, including recruiting, tracking and managing active and prospective volunteers. Joe’s expertise, along with his enthusiasm and solution-oriented attitude, has been invaluable.
Joe has also been an ambassador for Second Harvest at major events. His most memorable experience was at The Royal Winter Fair, where we had an information booth with various interactive and educational activations about food waste. Joe enjoyed talking to guests and sharing his knowledge on the causes and impact of food waste. To his surprise, many were unaware that perfectly edible fruits and vegetables can end up in landfills just because they don’t meet certain esthetic standards.
“You could actually see people visibly get angry that food waste would happen,” he recalled, “I’m hoping that this type of discussion will inspire people to take more action to address this problem.”
To Joe, having awareness about a challenge is the first step towards understanding and solving it. During a truck ride-along with a Second Harvest’s driver-ambassador on his delivery route, Joe witnessed first-hand the effort that went into supporting those in need and the power of community actions. The experience gave him a new perspective on the magnitude of food insecurity in Toronto and fuelled his commitment to this cause.
“We need to be better stewards of the environment and of each other. We need to be more compassionate, to take better care of each other, and strengthen our communities,” Joe said.
Through conversations with friends, family and neighbours, he hopes to inspire them to learn more about food rescue, reflect on their habits to reduce food waste and support organizations like Second Harvest.
“You don’t have to picture yourself performing a certain role before you apply to be a volunteer,” Joe said. “Just simply make it be known that you have the time and the willingness.”
From supporting Syrian refugees to volunteering with Doctors Without Borders and a local climate organization, Joe has been actively involved in community service for the past 12 years. For now, his focus remains on Second Harvest.
“I hope that I’m able to offer as much as I can as an individual, to continue to support the organization as long as I’m able to,” Joe said.
Every year on April 24, people come together to observe Stop Food Waste Day, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the staggering amount of food wasted each day and promoting solutions to combat it. It’s a time for reflection and action, urging individuals and communities to rethink their food consumption habits and embrace sustainable practices in the kitchen. Let’s explore how we can elevate culinary creativity while reducing waste by giving common food scraps a second life.
Watermelon rinds
Instead of discarding watermelon rinds, pickle them with vinegar, salt, and spices for a refreshing snack or a unique addition to salads.
Fruit peels
Zest lemon peels to infuse marinades, dressings, or baked goods with a burst of citrus flavour. You can also candy lemon peels for a sweet and tangy treat.
Simmer fruit peels with water, sugar, and spices to create a fragrant syrup that can be used in cocktails, desserts, or as a drizzle over yogurt or pancakes.
Vegetable scraps
Collect and freeze vegetable scraps such as carrot tops, celery leaves, herb stems and onion skins to make flavorful stocks and broths. Simply simmer the scraps with water, herbs, and spices for a homemade base for soups, stews, and sauces.
You can also finely chop herb stems and add them to sauces, soups, or stir-fries to infuse them with subtle herbal flavours.
Potato peels
Transform potato peels into crispy snacks by tossing them with olive oil, salt and seasoning, then baking them until golden brown. You can also use potato peels to add texture to mashed potatoes or soups.
Broccoli stems
Shred broccoli stems and add them to slaws, stir-fries, or frittatas for added texture and nutrition.
Cheese rinds
Cheese rinds are full of umami! Freeze them and add them to soups or stews to impart rich, savoury flavors. The rinds will slowly melt into the dish for more depth and complexity.
Coffee grounds
Repurpose used coffee grounds as a natural exfoliant in DIY skincare products or use them to fertilize plants in your garden. Coffee grounds also work wonders as an odour neutralizer in your fridge or garbage disposal.
This Stop Food Waste Day, let’s celebrate culinary creativity by embracing the potential of food scraps. Together, we can make a difference in reducing waste and building a more sustainable food system.
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