Rescuing surplus food for 6.5 million+ Canadians

Second Harvest turned 40 this year. While we’re proud of all that we’ve accomplished, we also wish we were no longer needed. Our growth is a reminder of the harsh reality millions of Canadians face and the rising pressure being felt across the country. More and more people in Canada are food insecure, squeezed by the rising cost of living and an affordability crisis worsened by the uncertainties of tariffs, all while $58 billion worth of perfectly edible food is still wasted every year. With your support we will continue to face these challenges head on.

As long as there is food to be rescued and delivered to those who need it, we will continue to be as relentless, adaptable and laser focused as we have been over the last four decades. Since September 2024, we’ve rescued over 43.1 million pounds of great healthy food - almost halfway to our 2025 fiscal goal. The food we’ve re-distributed has made its way to 1,200+ communities across Canada and has supported food programs at more than 4,100 non-profit organizations. The healthy surplus food that we kept from landfill also enabled the prevention of 143 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. That’s equivalent to taking nearly 20,000 cars off the road for a year.

Second Harvest's food rescue provides mission critical support to our community partners. One of these organizations is Cota, a Toronto based organization dedicated to helping at-risk individuals live well in their communities. According to their CEO Paul Bruce, “Second Harvest donations play an important role in supporting vulnerable groups such as seniors, people with disabilities and single mothers.” Paul shared with us the story of a client who became immunocompromised after surgery. “Second Harvest's weekly support in providing fresh food, especially vegetables, was crucial for his recovery. Not only did it help him maintain a healthier diet, but it also alleviated some of the financial burdens he was facing at a very challenging time in his life.”

We heard very similar stories from our partners at Whitby Specialty food bank. According to their team “The demand for food is real, a lot of people are accessing food banks right now. We wouldn't be able to do what we're doing if we weren't getting the quantity and quality that we get from Second Harvest.” We know that access to fresh, nutritious food can change lives. That’s why we remain committed to working with organizations like these to ensure that no one in our community has to choose between food and other essentials.

This impact is yours. Every pound of food rescued, every meal and every person served is a result of your incredible support. Thank you for standing with us in the fight against hunger and food waste. Your generosity makes it possible to keep food where it belongs: on plates and out of landfills.

Links:

• Full Mid-Year Impact Report