Food Rescue Program
Food For Thought !

Mike Turnbull
Food Rescue Program Manager
The Unemployed Help Centre
November 17-19, 2013

The Unemployed Help Centre is a non-profit charitable
organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the unemployed;
economically challenged in the Windsor; Essex County area.

Besides the services we offer to Windsor and Essex County
residents we are also the hub of the Windsor Essex Food bank
Association. We work very hard to keep the shelves full
But there is always more that can be done……..

So, a dedicated group of people with a common goal
met to address the food security and nutritional needs
of the community
From this came the idea for Plentiful Harvest……..

OUR MISSION
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The mission of the UHC Food Rescue Program is to reduce
hunger by rescuing large quantities of food; fresh and
prepared for packaging and distribution to the hungry of our
community.

GOALS OF THE PROJECT
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Increased quantity of food available for distribution
Increased nutritional quality of food for distribution
Equitable distribution of food across Windsor Essex County
To rescue food that would otherwise be wasted
To repackage food proportionally for distribution
To provide nutritious foods for hungry people through social agencies
To produce nutritious meals for hungry people
To preserve nutritious food for future distribution
To support knowledge and understanding of healthy eating through
workshops, and demonstrations.

WHAT IS PLENTIFUL HARVEST?
 The Food Rescue Program consists of three key strategies and
resources which allowed us to establish a comprehensive
program to rescue large quantities of food (fresh/prepared) to
package, distribute, feed, educate, and make more accessible
food resources to individuals/families in need and enhance
food security.

1. 26’ REFRIGERATED TRUCK/FOOD RESCUE
We secured a 26’ Refrigerated Truck with support from
Russell A. Farrow and
The United Way’s Major Gifts Program
This allowed us to gather fresh produce around the county……

2. STATE OF THE ART COMMUNITY KITCHEN
We had a very ambitious plan for our Community Kitchen
Thanks to our community partners, it became a reality….

3. MOBILE FOOD BANK
Through our Mobile Food Bank we can distribute fresh produce to area
neighourhoods and prepared foods to many agencies with after school
programs, summer school programs etc.
Our truck is always a welcome sight…………….

In order to accomplish this we need many
Community Partners

So it was now time to launch our first strategy,
Food Rescue.

LOCAL FOOD ACT PASSES THIRD READING:
MPP BAILEY’S TAX CREDIT FOR FOOD BANK DONATIONS BECOMES LAW
For Immediate Release November 05, 2013
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QUEEN’S PARK – On Tuesday, Bill 36 – Local Food Act, 2013, received unanimous support at third
reading from MPPs at Queen’s Park. The Local Food Act enshrines into law Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob
Bailey’s longstanding initiative to create a tax credit for farmers who donate agricultural products to
Ontario food banks and community food programs.
“There is a real need in Ontario’s food banks and community food programs for fresh and nutritious
foods; I am thrilled that this tax credit for farmers was recognized by MPPs as a way to help generate
those much needed donations” said MPP Bailey. “This will help get more fresh local food to those who
need it the most and ensure that the Local Food Act actually has an impact.”
The Local Food Act, which will receive Royal Assent from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on
Wednesday, creates a non-refundable tax credit worth 25% of the current market value of the donated
agricultural product to farmers who donate to a community food program, including a food bank. In
order to be eligible the program must be run by a registered charity and must provide the food free of
charge.
Just hours before the Local Food Act passed, Food Banks Canada released its Hunger Report, 2013. The
annual report from Food Banks Canada shows that last year in Ontario 375,814 people were assisted
by food banks; more than 131,000 of those individuals were children. Moreover, the Ontario
Association of Food Banks believes that 70 per cent of Ontarians using food banks do not have access
to the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables.

Food Destined For Landfills/Tilled Under
Over 30 percent of fruits and vegetables in North America don't even make it
onto store shelves because they're not pretty enough for picky consumers.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF FOOD WASTE AND
HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
 Roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption
every year — approximately 1.3 billion tones — gets lost or wasted.
 The impact of food waste is not just financial. Environmentally, food waste
leads to wasteful use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides; more
fuel used for transportation; and more rotting food, creating more methane
– one of the most harmful greenhouse gases that contributes to climate
change. Methane is 23 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.
 Unused food that ends up in landfills is one of the main sources of
greenhouse gases.

TO DATE PLENTIFUL HARVEST HAS RESCUED
OVER 2 MILLION LBS OF FOOD
2,000,000 lbs of Food Rescued since June of 2012 and distributed
equitably to sixteen area food bank, over 50 community agencies,
after school programs and summer programs.

Rescued food can now be put on the plates of
those in need in our community.
Our students find creative ways to preserve and prepare rescued food

Student Prepare Fresh Meals And Snacks For Our Mobile
Food Bank, After School Programs And Summer School
Programs

Putting Good Food To Good Use.

We couldn’t do this without community PARTNERSHIPS
We Entered Into An Innovative Partnership Between The
Unemployed Help Centre And The Greater Essex County District
School Board

We Began A Very Successful Partnership With The
Victorian Order Of Nurses
Chef Robert and VON’s Stephanie Segave
enjoy fresh produce

With The VON Our Students Prepare Over Fifty
Thousand Healthy Meals, That Are Sent Out Daily To
Hundreds Seniors In Our Community
After school meals are also prepared for Windsor and Essex
County Schools…

The VON Student Nutrition Program Provides 2600
Healthy After School Snacks Each Month
All prepared in our state-of-the-art kitchen…

“These programs are a testament to the obstacles that
can be overcome and the powerful results that can be
achieved when an organization leverages
The ingenuity of local youth, local food and dynamic
community partnerships!”
Stephanie Segave
Ontario Student Nutrition Program Manager
VON Canada

Our efforts have been rewarded
with many awards, including
Ontario Food Banks ‘Innovator of the Year’

The Victorian Order of Nurses
‘Award of Excellence 2013’
to Chef Robert Catherine

The Windsor and Essex
County
District School Board’s
CHAMPIONS OF
EDUCATION AWARD

We owe our success to the hard work of our staff,
students and volunteers
And to the tremendous support we receive from the community.