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To make a donation:
By mail or in person:
1085 Winnipeg Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0S2
By Phone: (204) 982-3581
Online: www.winnipegharvest.org
Winnipeg Harvest appreciated the tredmendous support
that we receive from the community each year.
We welcome support in the form of donated
(1) money (2) food and (3) time.
TABLE OF CONTENTS WHO WE ARE
Board of Directors List.......................................... 1 MISSION STATEMENT...
Who We Are............................................................ 1 Winnipeg Harvest is a non-profit, community-based
President’s Report................................................. 2 organization committed to providing food to people
Executive Director’s Report................................. 4 who struggle to feed themselves and their families.
Mentorship & Apprenticeship Program............... 6
Agencies & Referrals............................................ 8 We are also committed to maximizing public awareness of
Warehouse............................................................. 9 hunger while working towards long-term solutions to hunger
Volunteers............................................................ 10 and poverty. Winnipeg Harvest was founded in 1984 and
Volunteer/School Programs............................... 12 opened its doors in 1985. Our immediate goal was, and
Special & Signature Events................................ 14 continues to be, to feed hungry people. Winnipeg Harvest
Hunger & Poverty Awareness............................ 17 is a founding member of Food Banks Canada and the
Communications................................................. 18 Manitoba Association of Food Banks (MAFB).
Kitchen................................................................. 19
To further Winnipeg Harvest’s mission, we share food &
provide training opportunities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2012 / 2013 We collect:
MONEY – For each dollar we raise, we are able to distribute
$20 worth of surplus food.
Jody Hecht...................................................President
Gordon Pollard................................... Vice-President FOOD – We received nearly 5.6 million kilograms of food
Mabel Wieler.................................................Treasurer (nearly 12.3 million lbs.) in our warehouse last year.
Gail Loewen.................................................Secretary
Janet K. Baldwin............................................ Director TIME – From people and groups who share in our
Garth Buchko................................................. Director mission to end hunger.
Richard Cloutier............................................. Director
Lyna Hart........................................................ Director We provide:
Laura Lomow................................................. Director MENTORSHIP & APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS (M.A.P.)
Brad Lutz........................................................ Director Seven people gained employment through skills acquired at
Heather McIntyre........................................... Director Winnipeg Harvest last year.
Marilyn McLaren............................................ Director
Desiree C. Paulsen........................................ Director INCOME TAX RETURNS - For the 2011 Taxation year,
John Smith..................................................... Director Winnipeg Harvest helped process 3,684 income tax returns.
Louis S. Trepel............................................... Director
KEY FACTS...
Through more than 340 partner agencies including soup
Inspired by the
kitchens, food banks, youth and other programs, we fed 63, 482
United Nations Millennium Development Goals,
Winnipeg Harvest is working to reduce the need for Manitobans on average a month. More than 54,000 of our
food banks in Manitoba by half by 2020. clients are in Winnipeg; with 48 per cent being children.
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 1
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Jody Hecht, President of the Board
Last year, I had What are the “right” programs and projects to move forward
concerns about the with, and whether they will help us meet the vision for
55,575 Manitobans a 50% reduction in the need for food banks by the year
using a food bank each 2020?
month. This year, that
number has increased Perhaps, as a starting place, we as a community need to
to nearly 64,000 better understand some of the root causes of hunger. We
people receiving food need to let go of the stereotypes that keep us complacent,
assistance each month. and even entrenched in simplistic views such as the
Last year, Winnipeg ”64,000 people using the food bank each month, should
Harvest shared 11 million pounds of food, 2 million more get jobs” *1(comment on the Free Press website in
than the previous year. In terms of its mandate of sharing response to Winnipeg Harvest’s May 2013 urgent request
food with hungry people, I can report success. With the for food).
help of our many donors, partners and friends, Winnipeg
Harvest has continued to meet its goal, despite a growing The causes of hunger and poverty are many, variable
demand year over year. And yet the statistics printed and often complex. We have seen that there is often a
on these pages are not good news. While I am proud correlation between the need for a Food Bank and the
of the work Winnipeg Harvest does each and every day, paucity of affordable social housing. Without affordable
the growth evidenced in this report is not the reflection of housing, many people are forced to use any food budget,
a prosperous community but an expression of systemic on housing. Consequently, they will need food assistance.
problems.
For those whose source of income is social assistance,
People are drawn to Winnipeg Harvest, not only because stagnant rates are a factor. For those lucky enough to
of the tremendous spirit of our “community”, but because find affordable housing, the per diem food allowance, is
the cause is both universal and compelling; we all need approximately $3.96 per person. As Canadians, we have
to eat, in order to live. We are thankful for the good will. a proud tradition of universal healthcare. Lack of access to
We would be nowhere without the tremendous support healthcare on financial grounds, is intolerable. For $3.96
we receive. When our shelves are empty and we issue a day, one eats to survive; it is virtually impossible to eat
an urgent call for help (as we have most recently needed nutritiously. This often leads to chronic disease. In these
to do both in May and June of this year) people respond. terms, hunger is a health issue. Should it not be equally
This donor support, as well as some government initiatives, intolerable to us?
has enabled us to expand the building, fix a leaky roof,
complete the training kitchen as well as build the Asper We need consensus that hunger in a country as wealthy as
training and friendship village. Canada is unacceptable. So, I invite you to get incensed,
outraged, that in this province alone, nearly 64,000 people,
What we have been unable to do, is to tackle the bigger, nearly half of them children, are hungry every month.
fundamental issue of existent hunger that keeps us in
business. Without impacting the larger issues-the need is Unless, and until, we as a society, alter our attitudes and
likely to continue. stop tolerating this reality, we will not appreciably tackle
hunger; food will continue to fly off our shelves at ever
With an ultimate goal of eradicating the need for our increasing rates. That change, is paramount in meeting
services, coupled, ironically, with an expanded facility and Winnipeg Harvest’s 2020 goal.
increased demand for our services, we are constantly
evaluating our next steps.
Annual Report 2012 2 www.winnipegharvest.org
The goal, introduced in 2012, is measured against a delineating responsibilities at the federal, provincial,
local class of fifth graders who will be the class of 2020. territorial and municipal levels. The proposed strategy
How do we get to goal 2020? The path is not clear. would include a nationally funded children and food
Whose responsibility is it? Winnipeg Harvest? Business? strategy to ensure that all children, at all times, have
Government? Private citizens? I would suggest that we all access to healthy and nutritious food. If there is hope of
can play a role in partnering towards solutions. breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty surely it rests with
our children.
While continuing to meet a mission of sharing food with
hungry people, Winnipeg Harvest is also focused on As we look forward, to 2020, our vision and hope is that the
assisting people move into paid employment. It uses group of fifth graders that will be the graduating
the tools of mentorship and apprenticeship, the newly class of that year, will start their adult lives unburdened by
renovated commercial kitchen, the Asper Friendship and the current levels of hunger and poverty, in a society that
Learning Village as well as with training initiatives. For among other things, has much less need for the services
those not able to move into employment, Winnipeg Harvest of a food bank. We invite you to join us on that journey- we
provides programs and services aimed at advancing will need your help.
life skills as well as enhancing quality of life through
awareness programs, lunch and learns and the like at its I want to thank the troops on the ground, the passionate
facility at 1085 Winnipeg Avenue. volunteers and staff of Winnipeg Harvest under the very
capable leadership of David Northcott and Kate Brenner.
Following Dr. De Schutter’s (the United Nation’s Special I am grateful to my wise and committed board of directors
Rapporteur on the Right to Food) 2012 visit to Canada, and want to acknowledge and thank departing directors,
which included a stop at Winnipeg Harvest, the UN Human Robert Tapper (2012), Laura Lomow and Louis Trepel
Rights Council of the General Assembly, released a (2013) for their dedicated service. They each brought
comprehensive report on food security in Canada. One of their own unique talents to the table and enriched the
the many recommendations was that Canada formulate organization.
a comprehensive rights-based national food strategy
“We need consensus that hunger in a country as wealthy as Canada is
unacceptable. So, I invite you to get incensed, outraged, that in this
province alone, nearly 64,000 people, nearly half of them children, are
hungry every month. Unless and until we as a society, alter our attitudes
and stop tolerating this reality, we will not appreciably tackle hunger.”
-Jody Hecht, President
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 3
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
David Northcott, Executive Director
Thank you for We will use the facilities to continue to share food with
walking alongside hungry people and to reduce the need in our community.
Winnipeg Harvest
in the journey to Our newly expanded commercial style kitchen, which
eliminate hunger opened in November of 2012, has given us the ability
and poverty in to train people. Each day, a different team of kitchen
our community. volunteers prepares and shares approximately 120 meals.
Over the years We are working with the Province of Manitoba to offer the
clients, volunteers, safe food handling course. This enables Winnipeg Harvest
supporters, donors, to offer that training opportunity to the volunteers who
business and government have all helped shaped the are looking to establish themselves in the food services
vision Lee Newton had for Winnipeg Harvest back in industry. Thank you to the Province of Manitoba and the
the early 1980s. The contributions from so many people City of Winnipeg for providing safe food handling courses
representing the different spirits that make up our for many of our clients.
community have allowed us to view Winnipeg Harvest and
hunger through a different lens. It has helped us grow, There is a need to strengthen several programs in
move forward and change. Our first commitment was to get Manitoba, specifically as it relates to the cost of food and
food to hungry people. We responded and plan to continue shelter. In 1992, the cost of a litre of gasoline was 53.9
to be here as long as there are hungry people who need cents at its peak in the summer of that year. That same
food. litre now costs in excess of $1.20, more than double its
cost from 20 years ago. According to the Bank of Canada’s
But it is the next step where we will need those spirits, Inflation calculator, a basket of goods, including food that
those with a different lens, to walk alongside us for cost $100.00 in 1992 would cost $147.01 today. Yet, the
this journey once again. We need to strengthen our rental allowance for people on welfare in Manitoba has
relationships with those that can help us achieve the goal been flat since 1992; rent prices have increased steadily
of reducing the need for food bank use by half by the year over the last twenty-one years.
2020. Business, government, donors, volunteers, clients
and non-profit organizations who share our goals all have In 2010, the office of the then Manitoba Ombudsman Irene
a role to play in achieving Goal 2020. Goal 2020 may give A. Hamilton issued the Report on Manitoba Employment
us a way to measure the depth of our progress, but the and Income Assistance Program. In the report, there
work to achieve it needs to accelerate over the next seven were 68 recommendations, designed “to enhance both
years. consistency and fairness, including the implementation
of service standards and a complaint resolution process.”
While we continue to grow as a food distribution and Winnipeg Harvest supports the recommendations in the
training centre, we recognize one of the keys we can Ombudsman’s report. Read it at www.ombudsman.mb.ca.
provide to meeting the goal of reducing the need for food
banks by half is growing our mentorship and apprenticeship In 2011, we responded to the challenge of reducing the
training programs. We are working to reduce the need for need for food banks by half by the year 2020. In 2012,
food assistance and are committed to building hope as the we were successful in issuing our first formal report that
need for knowledge continues to grow. measures the fight against hunger; “The 2012 Report Card
On Goal 2020: Half the Hunger”. Winnipeg Harvest will
It was a challenge to face the need of a new warehouse continue to network and work alongside our partners to
and training centre. However we celebrated the official decrease the need for food bank use.
dedication of the building on June 27, 2012.
Annual Report 2012 4 www.winnipegharvest.org
At our Food Distribution and Training Centre, Winnipeg Harvest. Those who have served on our Board of
Harvest will continue to foster a spirit of independence Directors are selfless; they volunteer their leadership
and personal growth for all and continue to provide skills into helping define Winnipeg Harvest’s footprint in
opportunities for volunteers to reach their potential our community. Laura Lomow, Robert Tapper and Louis
through job and life skill training. Trepel are three such individuals. We were grateful for
their years of service on our Board. Thank you Laura,
As we have since Lee Newton founded Winnipeg Harvest thank you Robert and thank you Louis. Well done.
in 1985, we will walk alongside hungry families to work
together to step up and out of poverty, and we will work In August of 2011, at the invitation of the Sagkeeng
with all levels of government, business and community First Nation at Turtle Lodge, we participated with the
to promote change. We will continue to engage to build Roundtable on Community Food Justice. The Roundtable
stronger relationships with tomorrow’s leaders from explored how we share and build food security and
Kindergarten through Grade 12 and in our province’s community nutrition. We agreed that all food is sacred
post-secondary institutions. We hope to see those and spiritual in nature. Can we invite Manitobans and
completing Grade 12 in 2020, graduating into prosperity, all people to a day of Spirit, a day of Celebration, a day
not poverty. of Fasting? It would be to recognize and celebrate the
spiritual nature of food and the urgency (with which) we
Winnipeg Harvest has worked closely with kind, spiritual have to plant the seeds of change now for all our children
and diverse groups of individuals since 1985. We also and grandchildren.
celebrate the lives of loved ones who were friends of
Winnipeg Harvest, people we loved too, who left us over Food is a sacred right. That message needs to become
the last year; Jim Ward, David Calof, Fanny Linklater, part of our collective consciousness; we can take another
Kathleen (Kae) Lovelace, Tom Milne, Juliette Nys, Victor step toward eradicating poverty in our community, in our
Pinchin, John Puchniak, Nick Ternette, Robert Borra, country and in our world. We are a sharing table whose
Philip Noone and Eleanor Carierre. Each brought forth foundation is the sacredness of food, where we are all
contributions that were immeasurable and the footprint of family, and where the story of each person’s journey
your spirit lives on at Winnipeg Harvest. towards justice, love and charity are needed in order to
sustain change.
Through our journey, we have been blessed to have
intelligent, caring people who have contributed broad and
diverse skill sets into defining the spirit of Winnipeg
“The report card is something we plan to issue each year for the next seven
years as we work toward helping achieve Goal 2020. We hope to see those
completing Grade 12 in 2020, graduating into prosperity, not poverty.”
-David Northcott, Executive Director
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 5
MENTORSHIP & APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Winnipeg Harvest has been successful in mentoring individuals from all walks of life for many years. While people
first come into Winnipeg Harvest seeking food assistance, they often choose to become volunteers, a big step
toward empowering themselves to help break the need for food assistance, by acquiring the practical skills needed to
continue to adapt in a fast-paced world.
Some of the programming Winnipeg Harvest offers through its Mentorship & Apprenticeship program can often
provide graduates with certificates. These areas include Safe Food Handling, Fork Lift Operation, Public Speaking,
Administrative, Basic Computer skills and more. These programs provide a stepping stone to Winnipeg Harvest’s self-
help ethic, in their journey toward self-sufficiency and an improved quality of life.
Over the past year, Winnipeg Harvest has benefited from a diverse group of individuals who have brought their skills
to help us advance our Mentorship & Apprenticeship program.
“We learn to do by doing.”
- Spencer W. Kimball
Jane Moses has already accomplished something most of us
in Canada need not worry about; she survived. At a young age,
Jane escaped the civil war in the Southern Sudan in 1996. Jane
was a single mother of a three year old son named Junior when
she immigrated to Canada in 2008.
Upon arrival, she knew in order to survive in this new country;
she would need a job to support her and her son. She started
volunteering at Winnipeg Harvest three times a week in 2010.
She received food assistance from Harvest, helping her feed
herself and Junior, but she still needed to make some money to
provide a home for her son.
Jane was encouraged to go through our Mentorship &
Apprenticeship program where she ended up securing a part-
time job in custodial services at Winnipeg Harvest. This allowed
Jane and her son to move out of her sponsor’s home and into
a two bedroom apartment in the West End. In addition to her
job, she is also taking English classes five times each week.
Jane Moses Jane speaks five additional languages including; Barea, Arabic,
Swahili, Bengali and Balanda.
Winnipeg Harvest is proud to be part of Jane’s journey.
Annual Report 2012 6 www.winnipegharvest.org
Kyle McMillan’s work at Winnipeg Harvest began in October 2009. Kyle,
who has a cognitive disability, works in our distribution facility since he
loves to work in the warehouse.
Growing up as an inner city youth, Kyle has had a challenging past.
He was involved in the street lifestyle and struggled with his family and
his social life. His involvement with Manitoba Adolescence Treatment
Centre (MATC) was able to provide him with the help he needed
and introduced him to positive activities including volunteering with
community based organizations such as Winnipeg Harvest. When he
first came to Harvest, he worked in the pre-sortation area where he
sorted reclaimed food donations and checked for their quality.
Currently, he gains valuable experience from our mentorship and
apprenticeship program. He also works construction jobs once in a
while and was recently hired as a casual weekend volunteer services
associate at Winnipeg Harvest. Kyle works on Saturdays, in addition to
volunteering with us weekdays between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Kyle McMillan
Did you know?
35 people attended the forklift training sessions at Winnipeg Harvest
last year. Each one of them passed
and received certification.
Bert Cruz came to Canada from the Philippines and settled in
Winnipeg in May of 2011. He began volunteering at Winnipeg
Harvest in December of that same year. It wasn’t long before Bert
was working every day at Winnipeg Harvest in janitorial services.
Bert very quickly demonstrated an ability to work hard and to
bring integrity to his responsibilities. Bert is a humble man, who is
determined to contribute at work, at home and in life.
Bert’s infectious smile and optimistic outlook is deeply rooted in his
faith. Bert says he is “thankful to God” for his path and plans to keep
moving forward along his journey guided by his faith. He considers
Winnipeg Harvest a spiritual home that treats one fairly and lovingly.
Bert says his experience has been that the people at Winnipeg
Harvest are genuinely concerned about the welfare of others,
demonstrating a compassionate approach to its team, its clients and
to the community at large.
Bert has made Winnipeg Harvest a big part of his journey as he
continues to adjust to life in Canada. The team at Winnipeg Harvest
Bert Cruz is proud to be part of the spirit that Bert demonstrates each day. He
uplifts us with his positive outlook on life, on love and on spirit.
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 7
AGENCIES & REFERRALS
• 5,082,227 kilograms (11,204,394 pounds) of food were
distributed to 343 partner agencies.
• 181 agencies received food hampers for distribution to
clients.
• 116 agencies, including schools, soup kitchens, drop-in
centres and seniors’ programs are part of our nutritious Meal
and Snack Program. Winnipeg Harvest also supplies food for
the CSI program (free summer program through Boys and
Girls Clubs of Winnipeg)
• The Meal Share utilizes a refrigerated truck, enabling the
transport of food from restaurants, hotels, etc...to food banks,
soup kitchens and daycares throughout the Winnipeg area.
Our Small Agency Delivery truck is dedicated to the delivery of nutritious food to 40 low-income daycares.
• Agencies such as emergency shelters, pre-employment programs, family resource centres in Winnipeg, and urban
and First Nation communities also received surplus personal care products for their clients.
• Winnipeg Harvest shares food with the Manitoba Association of Food Banks through several hubs throughout the
province; to Gimli in the Interlake region, Brandon in the Western and Northern Region, and Sagkeeng First Nation
in the Eastern Region. Each then re-distributes the food to other communities in their respective regions. Winnipeg
Harvest is also a hub for 32 communities in Southern Manitoba and the region surrounding the city.
• Total number of adults served monthly - 28,197
• Total number of children served monthly by Winnipeg Harvest - 25,932
• Total number of people served each month in Winnipeg - 54,129 monthly
• Total number of rural Manitobans served monthly - 9,353
This includes phone calls from the Call centre,
email registration, and walk-ins.
By the numbers!
*3684 income tax files completed by our Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
*2854 first time callers to our Referrals department.
Annual Report 2012 8 www.winnipegharvest.org
WAREHOUSE
Given the winter we just had, our warehouse received a welcome addition to our fleet this year that enabled us to be
mobile during snowfalls.
The LS Tractor, R4047 series with a LL4101 Front End Loader (pictured below) joined the fleet just prior to a winter that
saw snowfall amounts double from what they were last year and well above the seasonal average.
The tractor plays a key role in our ability to distribute food to
people who need it around Manitoba. With a fleet of trucks on
the road six days a week and the demand for food supplies to
reach the various agencies on a day-to-day basis, it is essential
to minimize delays in deliveries. Having the new tractor through
this past winter enabled us to minimize the effects of heavier
than normal snowfalls and also minimize the weather related
delays in our distribution channel.
Thank you to the gracious donors who helped purchase the
tractor, so we could keep the food moving to Manitobans who
need it the most.
More than 160 centimetres of snow fell in Winnipeg between November of 2012 and
March of 2013, doubling the amount of snow that fell in the winter of 2011 - 2012.
The other addition to the fleet last year was a Ford Econoline SD. The truck came courtesy of Purolator Canada (picture
below), who donated one its reconditioned delivery trucks to help Winnipeg Harvest meet the needs of our agencies and
clients.
Our warehouse now has a fleet of 11 vehicles and four forklifts working Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Quarterback Buck Pierce joins
to help move food donations, which last year totalled more than Purolator Canada’s David Robinson and Winnipeg Harvest’s Kate Brenner
12,000,000 lbs. in welcoming a truck donated by Purolator to the Winnipeg Harvest fleet.
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 9VOLUNTEERS
This year, nearly 316,000 hours were donated by volunteers, equivalent to more than 151 full-time positions.
From sorting incoming food to greeting clients to delivering food to food banks, the 23,000+ people who volunteered
are the backbone of Winnipeg Harvest. Volunteers at Winnipeg Harvest come as individuals, part of groups from the
community or those staging events to collect food or cash donations.
We are committed to providing training and mentorship opportunities for our volunteers, a majority of whom are food bank
clients.
Volunteer opportunities include:
Reception, food line phone operator, special events, food bank room, warehouse, order filler, driver, sorting, re-bagging
bulk foods, bagging dinner kits, events, one on one advocacy, gardening, cleaning as well as hunger and poverty
awareness.
Training opportunities include:
Forklift certification, Warehousing, Safe Food Handling Certification, Urban Garden, Reception, First Aid, Computer
courses, one-on-one Interview Rehearsal, Call Centre, Speakers Bureau.
Every day Winnipeg Harvest is open to a wealth of learning opportunities! These can range from a planned lunch and
learn session on knowing your welfare rights to the opportunity to learn about a new culture as you work alongside
another volunteer.
Every day we welcome groups to Winnipeg Harvest to work together to complete tasks from bagging bulk items like
rice, flour and sugar to sorting potatoes. Our group projects allow teams to accomplish a great amount of work in a short
period of time, and foster cooperation, communication and team building skills.
There are a variety of school, community, corporate, and faith groups that come to Winnipeg Harvest.
Some of these include: K-12 and post-secondary programs throughout the province, Scouts Canada, Girl Guides of
Canada, Nav Canada, Manitoba Hydro, Investors Group, and numerous faith groups.
“No one is useless in this world who
lightens the burdens of another.”
-Charles Dickens
Annual Report 2012 10 www.winnipegharvest.orgVOLUNTEER BIO VOLUNTEER BIO
Jennifer Stephanson, Reception Ruth Lee, Call Centre
Jennifer has been volunteering at Winnipeg Harvest In January 1998, Ruth Lee came to Winnipeg Harvest
since 2011. A self-described people person, Jennifer’s to make a difference for people living in poverty and
kind personality and warm demeanor provide a friendly struggling to feed themselves and their families. Ruth
welcome to clients, donors and visitors to 1085 Winnipeg began volunteering in the Referrals Call Centre once a
Avenue when Jennifer is working the reception area. week, registering clients to attend food banks.
Among Jennifer’s wishes are that more people would Upon retiring from the nursing profession, Ruth wanted
donate their time to help out at Winnipeg Harvest. to continue to help people “in a different way”. We’re
glad you chose to help us Ruth.
VOLUNTEER BIO VOLUNTEER BIO
Frederick Perry-Parent and Kevin Walters, Event Volunteer
Allen Perry-Parent, Sortation
Kevin’s expertise has been a huge asset for two of
Frederick (Rick) Perry-Parent and Allen Perry-Parent are Winnipeg Harvest’s signature events; The Empty Bowl
long time volunteers. They volunteer in the sorting area Celebrity Auction and the Empty Bowl Soup-er Lunch.
and also work in the food bank room. They help train His promoter background contributed to making the
new volunteers in the food bank room, always follow 2012 Celebrity Auction the most financially successful
the procedure and work above and beyond. Thank you gala to date. And Kevin drew on his skills as a promoter
gentlemen. while chairing the Soup-er Lunch committee, helping
lead it to record attendance. Kudos Kev!
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 11VOLUNTEER & SCHOOL PROGRAMS
You can help those in the community who are less fortunate and make a difference in their lives. There are a variety of
programs for everyone to choose from.
These include: Urban Garden (Blue Box Gardening, Green Team, Grow-a-Row), Kids Who Care, Empty Bowls in the
Schools, Operation Donation, Tools for School, Halloween for Harvest, Family Nights, Day of Giving and more!
Urban Garden (Blue Box, Grow-A-Row
& Green Team)
The Urban Garden at Winnipeg Harvest is blooming!
With the Blue Box Gardens Program, and the Urban
Green Team, Winnipeg Harvest is bursting with
nutritious locally grown produce. Everything from basil
to lettuce, our volunteer chefs are happy to pick from
this garden of delights. Currently, we are working on
a greenhouse project in the back of the building. Our
hope is to see this space turn into an outdoor garden
where volunteers, clients and other team members
can get their hands dirty.
The Blue Box Garden program is a simple way to teach the practical side of horticulture.
Kids Who Care
The Kids Who Care program recognizes children
and youth who collect food or raise money at school,
birthday parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Christmas, food
drives, yard sales or lemonade stands, etc..., as well
as youth who volunteer their time sorting and packing
food in the Winnipeg Harvest warehouse.
A total of 81 youth were recipients of the Kids Who Care’ award in 2012.
That’s a lot of proud parents and grandparents!
Empty Bowls in the Schools
Local elementary school art teachers encourage their students to study about hunger and poverty in their
community. Once the study component is completed, the teachers arrange for the students to design, make
and decorate clay bowls, which are then glazed and put on display. The third component of the project has the
teachers and students organize a community supper at their school. Family and friends are invited to a simple
supper comprising soup, bread and a beverage. During the supper the guests have the opportunity to select and
take home a decorated bowl in exchange for a $10 donation to Winnipeg Harvest. Ten schools participated in the
“Empty Bowls In the Schools” program. Students studied poverty and hunger issues, created ceramic bowls and
held simple community bread and soup dinners raising $4,172.87 for Winnipeg Harvest and 460 kilograms (1,012
pounds) of food.
Annual Report 2012 12 www.winnipegharvest.orgOperation Donation
Across Manitoba every year in March schools from K-12 assist Winnipeg Harvest by collecting
non-perishable food items, including: baby food, tuna, soup, canned vegetables, fruit and pasta. The week-long food
drive of non-perishable food items goes a long way to replenish much needed supplies for the food bank.
Tools for School
For low-income families, preparing youngsters to return to school in the fall is a budgeting nightmare. What happens quite
often is families will dip into their food budget for school supplies. To address this
issue Winnipeg Harvest leads a school supply drive in August. The initiative is intended to help ensure that Winnipeg
school children receive the educational supplies they need to achieve success in the classroom. Even in today’s high
tech world, basic supplies such as pens and paper are still essential. In some schools, the demand for these supplies
is high, especially at the elementary school level. Winnipeg Harvest acknowledges that without the proper tools, these
children can find it difficult to complete the schoolwork that will shape their own success and the educational health of
their community.
Halloween for Harvest
By trick-or-treating for non-perishable food items instead
of candy, children/students can help strengthen food
bank supplies while raising awareness.
Six year old Alex did a Halloween food drive at his
daycare as well as trick-or-treated for food donations
instead of candy. He enjoyed it so much, he wants to do
it again in October of 2013.
Alex Wood shows off what he collected in October 2012 for Halloween for Harvest.
Family Nights
Winnipeg Harvest hosts Family Night volunteering twice each month. Families come in and work sorting groceries,
bagging bulk food items and packing meal kits for our clients. We see parents, grandparents, kids, teens and toddlers
all working together to help out. It’s a wonderful way for families to spend time together and for youngsters to learn that
community involvement is both important and fun!
Day of Giving
Companies operate a program where a group of
employees have the opportunity to volunteer at
Winnipeg Harvest and qualify for a grant to benefit the
charity.
Members of the Investors Group team helped us out by sifting flour and sugar.
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 13SPECIAL & SIGNATURE EVENTS
Our signature events & programs included the annual Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction, Share Your Thanks food drive,
Operation Donation, Soup-er Lunch, and Winnipeg Harvest’s Charity Golf Tournament.
In 2012/2013 a record number of 665 special events were held to increase awareness of hunger and poverty as well as
to raise money, recruit volunteers and collect surplus food for Winnipeg Harvest.
The money donated, food collected & distributed, and volunteer time contributed to Winnipeg Harvest are the result of
a variety of activities including our special and signature events. We are also fortunate to have the support of: Individual
donors, corporate donors, schools, service groups, faith communities, food retail outlets, food producers, processors,
manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers, Food Banks Canada’s national food sharing program, restaurants and
commercial kitchens (Meal Share Program), and gardeners (Grow-A-Row Program).
Empty Bowl Celebrity Auction & Soup-er Lunch
presented by Manitoba Lotteries
This year’s Celebrity Auction was our most successful
ever, raising in excess of $314,000. There were 430
people who attended the event at the Delta Winnipeg
on October 9. This year’s event had an excellent calibre
of celebrity, humanitarian and artisan bowls, including
Oscar Winning Actress Meryl Streep and Billionaire
Entrepreneur Donald Trump. A special thank you to
the volunteer organizing committee as well as all the
sponsors, organizations and individual donors who helped
make this event such a success.
Donald Trump’s bowl was one of more than 50 available at the Empty Bowl Celebrity
Auction, presented by Manitoba Lotteries at the Delta Winnipeg in October of 2012.
This year’s Soup-er Lunch was the most successful to
date, raising over $10,000. More than 750 people turned
up at the MTS Centre on November 8. The Soup-er Lunch
included bowls signed by the band Waillin’ Jennys and the
2012 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. A special thank you to the
volunteer organizing committee as well as all the sponsors,
organizations and individual donors who helped make this
event such a tremendous success.
Some downtowners take in some soup at the Empty Bowls Soup-er Lunch, presented by
“Wars of nations are fought to change maps. Manitoba Lotteries at the MTS Centre in November of 2012.
But wars of poverty are fought to map change.”
-Muhammad Ali
Annual Report 2012 14 www.winnipegharvest.orgHunger for Hope
Thanks again to Corus Radio Winnipeg
(CJOB 680 AM, Power 97 FM and 99.1 Fresh FM) for
providing funding to purchase baby food and infant
formula (the only food purchase Winnipeg Harvest makes)
for approximately 1,600 infants and mothers each month.
Last year, $231,134.60 was raised through the
Hunger for Hope campaign, a fundraising initiative
dedicated to ending child hunger in Manitoba. A special
thanks to the Sons of Italy for their $100,000 contribution.
In March 2013, Corus Radio Winnipeg announced that its fundraising for Hunger for Hope had
topped the $1 Million mark since its inception in 2008.
Share Your Thanks
With the generous support of Canada Safeway, Peak of the Market, their loyal shoppers and growers, the Fall 2012
Share Your Thanks program inspired Manitoba citizens and businesses to donate nearly 17,000 kilograms (36,804
pounds) of food for distribution through Winnipeg Harvest.
One of many families who donated food and time to the 2012 Share Your Thanks
program, in what is becoming a Thanksgiving tradition for many people each year.
Charity Golf Tournament
Thank you to our title sponsor Granite Financial for their
support of the Winnipeg Harvest 2012 Golf Tournament at
Southwood Golf Course in July. It was the first time many
golfers took a swing at the new course, raising $37,525
for Winnipeg Harvest.
On a hot July afternoon, 144 golfers hit the links at the new
Southwood Golf & Country Club.
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 15Operation Donation
There were 69 schools that took part in the 14th Annual
Operation Donation, with the help of teachers across
Manitoba. 11,871 kg (26,173.2 lbs.) of food was collected
by students and teachers. Manitoba Public Insurance
again took part by collecting 5,943 kg (13,103 lbs.) at its
offices across the province.
The total weight was matched by donations from both
Peak of the Market and Canada Safeway with a donation
of fresh vegetables and non-perishable food. As you can
see, the 2013 Operation Donation collected 53,558 kg.
(117,828 lbs.) of food.
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Paul Olson,
with Ecole Varennes students Cameron Tramblay and
Katesha Wai, give the 2013 Operation Donation total.
Huron Carole
Thank you to Tom Jackson and friends once again!
The Huron Carole, held Monday December 3, 2012 at the Centennial Concert Hall
featured musical performances from Jackson as well as from Sarah Slean, Matt Dusk,
Susan Aglukark.The Huron Carole Tour had a successful stop in Winnipeg, raising
$12,334.43 and 271 pounds of food.
Tackle Hunger
Thank you to Purolator for supporting Winnipeg Harvest with its Tackle
Hunger program which collected 30,137 kilograms (66,440 pounds) of non-
perishable food on August 24, 2012. Purolator has also supported Winnipeg
Harvest’s Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction since 2006, shipping bowls to
celebrities around the world.
Tin for the Bin
Thank you once again to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans and to the fans
of the Winnipeg Goldeyes for bringing a Tin for the Bin to all home games.
This program has brought in 368,174 kilograms (811,685 pounds) since it
began in 1986.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans donate thousands of
pounds of food each year at home games.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all our corporate sponsors, organizing committees, volunteers and individual donors for making
2012/2013 another successful year for events that help Harvest.
Annual Report 2012 16 www.winnipegharvest.orgHUNGER AND POVERTY AWARENESS
The Hunger and Poverty Awareness team at Winnipeg Winnipeg Harvest Executive Director David Northcott, in
Harvest works to carry out the second part of Winnipeg cooperation with Board Members Richard Cloutier and
Harvest’s mission statement: Gord Pollard, released the 2012 Report Card on Goal
“We are also committed to maximizing public awareness 2020: Half the Hunger during the dedication ceremony for
of hunger while working towards long-term solutions Winnipeg Harvest’s new building on June 27, 2012. The
to hunger and poverty.” The members of the Hunger report card chronicles progress, and what still needs to be
and Poverty Awareness Committee – including Board done, to achieve Winnipeg Harvest’s goal of reducing the
members, staff and volunteers, work with partners in the need for food bank use by half by 2020.
community to end hunger and poverty. Some highlights of
the program in 2012/13 include: Professional education – Winnipeg Harvest partners with
educational organizations, including: Faculty of Nursing,
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to University of Manitoba; Faculty of Medicine, University
Food. On May 11, 2012, Olivier De Schutter, the United of Manitoba; Faculty of Nursing, Red River College; and
Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, held Faculty of Education, University of Winnipeg.
a public meeting at Winnipeg Harvest as part of a cross-
Canada tour. Winnipeg Harvest worked as part of a
national coordinating committee to hold the public meeting.
Did you know?
About 65 people attended Dr. De Schutter’s presentation,
examining how the human right to adequate food is being More than 100 people attended our Lunch & Learns put
realized in Canada. As a follow up, Winnipeg Harvest on by nursing students last year? Topics included stress
hosted a webinar in March 2013 featuring the release and depression.
of the report by Dr. De Schutter. Raising Welfare Rates
(Campaign to raise shelter rates to 75 per cent median
market rental rate). Winnipeg Harvest is a member of the Working with others – Winnipeg Harvest partners with
Make Poverty History Manitoba (MPHM) coalition, which organizations and coalitions in the community, including:
has been campaigning for the province to raise the shelter Right to Housing, Make Poverty History Manitoba,
portion of welfare rates to 75 per cent of median market Employment and Income Assistance Advocates Network,
rental rates. Winnipeg Harvest participated in a meeting Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.
with the NDP caucus at the Legislature. Although there
were no specific commitments, the tone was positive.
2012 Report Card on Goal 2020: Half the Hunger
VOLUNTEER BIO
Dave Mouland, Hunger and Poverty Awareness
Dave initiated a campaign to reverse a proposed 20-cent transit fare increase by
forming a coalition with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, the University of
Winnipeg Students’ Association and two key city councillors -- Harvey Smith and Ross
Eadie. Dave participated in all strategy sessions and made three speeches to city
councillors during the process. In the end, the campaign resulted in the transit fare
increase being reversed.
Even after suffering a heart attack in our call centre this December, Dave takes every opportunity to get involved. He’s
back on the phones booking appointments for food bank clients, speaking to nursing students, representing Winnipeg
Harvest on the Consumers’ Association of Canada advisory committee, and has participating in numerous media
interviews. This year he received the Premier’s Volunteer Manitoba Service Award.
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 17COMMUNICATIONS
Communications is a vital component in raising awareness of both hunger and poverty issues to the general public
and the media. It means utilizing the traditional methods of communication such as generating publicity through the
mainstream print and electronic news media as well as attending public forums that search for ways to reduce and
eliminate poverty and hunger. And it means communicating with community and political leaders to try to find solutions to
reduce the problems caused by hunger and poverty in a complex, ever-changing world. Communicating what we learn,
what we need and how we succeed, is a key component in trying to reduce by half the number of people needing to use
food banks by 2020.
Winnipeg Harvest recognizes that the way we communicate is changing. Between April 1, 2012 and
March 31, 2013, we generated more than 556 stories through the print and electronic media. We also utilized social
media more than ever before. Our use of social media helped us reach an audience that relies heavily on Facebook and
Twitter to stay informed. By the end of March of 2013, our Facebook page had more than 3,900 ‘Likes’ and we had more
than 3,500 followers on Twitter. Over the year, there were more than 66,000 visits to our website.
Both these social networking tools were effective in marketing many
Winnipeg Harvest events including the Winnipeg Harvest Charity Golf
Tournament, Purolator Tackle Hunger, Tools for School, Empty Bowls
Celebrity Auction, Soup-er Lunch, Share Your Thanks, Operation
Donation, Kids Who Care and many more.
A special thanks to the print and electronic media outlets who support
what we do at Winnipeg Harvest and help us connect with the public.
Thanks to those who ‘like’ us and those who ‘follow’ us.
David Northcott being interviewed by CTV Winnipeg’s Jeff Keele.
VOLUNTEER BIO
Meghan Franklin, Communications
Meghan Franklin’s writing skills have been a huge asset
with her primary task of producing the Winnipeg Harvest’s
monthly e-bulletin. Meghan is currently a Red River College
Creative Communications student. Meghan holds a Bachelor
of Arts from Toronto’s York University. Thanks Meghan.
@WinnipegHarvest www.facebook.com/wpgharvest
Annual Report 2012 18 www.winnipegharvest.orgWINNIPEG HARVEST FINDS THE RECIPE FOR A
COMMUNITY KITCHEN
In November, we officially opened our new community teaching kitchen at Winnipeg Harvest. The look, feel and set-
up in the kitchen reflects what exists in many professional and commercial kitchens. Each weekday, a volunteer leader
coordinates a team of volunteers to cook lunch for volunteers and team members utilizing food donations to Winnipeg
Harvest by caring donors. The lunch crowds vary in size serving between 110 -150 people each weekday.
Our kitchen underwent a build. The top photos show the work in progress while the two photos below show the finished
kitchen - opened in November 2012
“I volunteer at Winnipeg Harvest to give back – being here feels like home.”
-Lindy ,Volunteer & Client
www.winnipegharvest.org Annual Report 2012 19Annual Report 2012 20 www.winnipegharvest.org
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