Second Harvest Delivers Six Millionth Pound of Food

Food rescue organization helps rebuild communities after recession

TORONTO, Aug. 26 /CNW/ - Today Second Harvest, a charitable organization that rescues and delivers perishable food items to social service agencies in Toronto, delivered its six millionth pound of food for this year. This is the first time in the organization's twenty-five year history that such a high volume of food has been recovered in a single fiscal year.

In 2009 the social service agencies that receive food from Second Harvest reported a 20-30 per cent increase in people coming through their doors requiring assistance. Agencies specifically saw a large increase in those who are considered 'working poor' - people affected by job loss or reduced work hours.

Melissa Dedic, Foodraiser at Second Harvest says, "we are committed to feeding Toronto's hungry, especially during difficult times. This year we responded to the dramatic increase in the demand for food by growing our food donations significantly. The food we recover and donate helps those most affected by the recession start rebuilding their lives."

One of Second Harvest's food recipients, the Salvation Army on River Street, operates a food bank and a café that serves 100 meals a day. According to Wayne Rumsby, a community pastor at the Salvation Army, the past two years have been a challenge for the organization. "We are very thankful to be on the receiving end of Second Harvest's work. Good food should not end up in landfill when people in our community are hungry," says Rumsby.

All food items distributed by Second Harvest are perishable goods that would otherwise go to waste. Donations are supplied by community-minded restaurants, grocery stores, food manufacturers and distributors. Second Harvest is grateful for the generosity of all their food partners.

In addition to feeding hungry Torontonians, Second Harvest also prevented over one million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere this year by diverting excess food from landfills. To learn more about Second Harvest or to make a donation, please visit secondharvest.ca.

About Second Harvest

Second Harvest is a charitable organization that takes a common-sense approach to hunger. For the past twenty-five years Second Harvest has been picking up donated, perishable food, which would otherwise go to waste, and delivering that food to over 200 social service agencies in Toronto. Recognized for efficiency and impact of services, independent research group Charity Intelligence Canada named Second Harvest a Ci Recommended Charity in 2009. The organization recently received a 'Grade A' from MoneySense magazine.

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For further information:

For more information on Second Harvest or to speak with a spokesperson, please contact:

Tonia Krauser
Manager of Communications
Second Harvest
416-625-6774
[email protected]
www.secondharvest.ca