The Tech-enabled charity reduces food waste by redirecting excess food from the landfill to people in need.

Amid rising food insecurity spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, a food rescue organization is launching in Airdrie in partnership with the Airdrie Food Bank.

Leftovers Foundation uses an app to connect volunteers, who pick up good food destined for the landfill from grocers, bakeries and restaurants and deliver it to service agencies such as the Airdrie Food Bank, which is the first service agency to partner with Leftovers in Airdrie.

We're really, really excited about the launch in Airdrie," said Audra Stevenson Interim CEO of the program. 

She goes on to say it all happened because of a local Airdronian Jane Miller who is now the coordinator of the program in Airdrie. Jane was volunteering in Calgary and mentioned that it was a long-distance for her to go to help out for quick food pick-ups and hoped to do it a bit closer to home. 

"It's been really wonderful to work with her because she knows the community, she's already building these partnerships and now we're just excited to be able to support her in kind of being the woman power behind leftovers Airdrie." 

Founded in Calgary in 2012 by Lourdes Juan, who was shocked at how much-unsold bread a single bakery had destined for the dumpster at closing time, Leftovers has grown into a large charity that redirects more than 40,000 pounds of edible food from dumpsters every single month in Alberta and Manitoba. The partnership with the Airdrie Food Bank is essential to expanding the work to rescue and redirect food in Airdrie.

"It's really about mobilizing community around reducing food waste and increasing food access." 

As increased food insecurity continues to persist, the Leftovers Foundation is seeking food vendors to partner with that can donate excess food as well as service agencies who would like to receive food. Volunteers are needed to deliver that food to service agencies that can help those in need.

You can go HERE to fill out a form to become a food donor or sign up to receive food if you are a non-profit or charity. You can also sign up to be a volunteer. 

 

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