Rescuing surplus food for 6.5 million+ Canadians

2024 has been an incredible year for Second Harvest! Throughout the year, we focused on growth, determination, and community with an aim of further building our National Food Rescue Network. With the mounting costs of living and inflation squeezing families across Canada, our mission has never been more important. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to rise to the challenge in ways we didn’t think possible!

A Big Impact

We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments over the past twelve months, where our team rescued and redistributed 87.1 million pounds of surplus food! That’s not just food saved from landfills – it’s healthy, perishable food delivered to Canadians who need it most. From coast to coast to coast, we were able to reach more than 6.5 million people, providing real and tangible support during a time when many are struggling.

Food does more than nourish people; it fosters sustainability, reliability, and hope for those in need. It connects us to one another and deeply drives our sense of self. At Second Harvest, we understand the critical importance of food security. Yet, with rising costs, many healthy, perishable foods remain out of reach for countless Canadians. That is why we focus on rescuing and redistributing surplus perishable goods like produce, proteins and dairy. Last year, 86% of the food rescued by Second Harvest was perishable and 64% was nutrient dense.

This rescued food provided 245,000 meals daily, distributed through more than 5,000 of our non-profit partners across Canada. Our partners are diverse and support many sectors of the community, including school and after-school programs, seniors’ centres, shelters, food banks, faith-based organizations, and northern and remote communities.

Environmental Impact

Rescued food not only impacts those at a community level, but also on a larger environmental scale. By keeping this food on plates and not in landfills, Second Harvest was able to divert 288 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. It also saved the 59.3 billion litres of water used to make this food, rather than it all going to waste.

Hungry for Change

Early in 2024, Second Harvest presented findings from our annual Hungry for Change survey. 1,400 not-for-profits across Canada were asked about their program demands and expected changes for the year. The results were striking; these critical frontline organizations expected to see an 18% increase in demand in 2024. That equates to more than 1 million people in Canada accessing a food charity for the first time last year.

Carla Williment of the River East Transcona School Division in Winnipeg, MB, Canada has seen these effects firsthand:

“We find an increased demand for our breakfast program. We typically would see 15-20 students in the morning come in for a light breakfast, but we are currently feeding 60-75 students consistently each day. We also provide a brown bag lunch for students who require a lunch or need an addition to their lunch.”

Looking forward in 2025

Second Harvest is not slowing down and is only looking to build upon the momentum started last year. We are optimistic in our goals, and we’re growing faster and reaching deeper into every province and territory, making a bigger impact with every meal. But we know there is still more work to do, and we are so thankful for the support of our community. Together, we’re not just rescuing food – we’re building a brighter, healthier future for all.

Thank you for believing in our mission and standing with us in the fight against food waste and food insecurity.

Links:

• Second Harvest Homepage

• Second Harvest 2024 Annual Report (PDF)