A national food rescue agency is asking Canadians to skip the milk and cookies for Santa this year, and help feed people experiencing hunger instead.
And, in a letter to the nation, released by the organization Second Harvest, it appears Santa approves too.
“You know the milk and cookies you leave out for me? They’re delicious, but I’ve had far more than my fair share,” Santa wrote.
“And truthfully, there are people struggling to put food on the table. There are more than 10 million Canadians experiencing hunger. That’s why this year I ask that you please skip my meal and pass one on to a family who needs it instead by donating to Second Harvest.”
Chef Trevor Randle, chef instructor with the Maple Ridge Secondary School culinary arts department, said he works with Second Harvest all the time.
He said they rescue perfectly good food from major companies and they use the food to supplement their free meal programs at the school.
“This group brings incredible fresh produce free of charge to our program. This food is not expired nor is it in any need ready to be composted. On a weekly basis we receive large amounts of local seasonal produce such as apples, greenhouse tomatoes and lettuce,” explained Randle.
“My program is able to transform this once to be wasted food into hundreds of nutritious and delicious dishes that students can come and take, free of charge if they are hungry,” he noted.
Randle explained that the food delivered free to his program goes directly to students who are in school and hungry, and if Second Harvest didn’t exist, that food would end up in the compost pile instead of feeding those in need.
He also noted that it gives more than 200 culinary arts students the opportunity to use their learned skills and adapt a menu based on what arrives, as they never know what they are going to receive.
“I can not thank the group at Second Harvest enough for their passion towards food security, it has truly made a difference in not only my school, but in the other schools with teaching kitchens as well,” said Randle.
Last year, Second Harvest rescued and redistributed 95 million pounds of food to more than 10,800 non-profit programs across Canada, said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest.
They deliver food in communities right across the Lower Mainland and beyond.
“Even the smallest donation can have an incredible impact,” Nikkel said. “One dollar can provide 10 meals of good, healthy food to people who need it most. Together, we can make sure no one goes hungry this holiday season.”
Until the end of December, the Nikita Foundation will be matching donations dollar for dollar.
Second Harvest is Canada’s largest food rescue organization and a global thought leader on food waste and perishable food redistribution.
It rescues unsold surplus food from thousands of food businesses across the supply chain to redistribute it to non-profits in every province and territory.
This prevents harmful greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere while improving access to nutrition for millions of Canadians experiencing food insecurity. Second Harvest is also deeply involved in advocacy, research, training and education and provides critical data and insights to inform public policy and educate the public on sustainable food systems.
Second Harvest is committed to driving systemic change, helping to shape policies and practices that reduce food waste and address its role in climate change, while also supporting communities by providing them with the food they need.
To learn more and to donate go to: www.secondharvest.ca.