Home Harvest program picks excess produce from Calgary gardens, donates to charities
A program that brings together Calgarians with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables growing in their yards with organizations who feed people in need has returned for a second year.
Volunteers with the Leftovers Foundation's Home Harvest program will come and harvest delicious produce and donate it that same day to service agencies including Calgary Community Fridge and Calgary Dream Centre.
"We support charities across the city," explained Shelby Montgomery, vice-president of programs for the Leftovers Foundation. "All of Leftovers’ food we first try to get into charities in Calgary, today we are harvesting rhubarb from our lovely growers back yard and today that rhubarb is going to Calgary Community Fridge."
In its first year, the program accumulated a total of 876 pounds of fresh produce in Calgary and Edmonton and expectations are high entering this summer.
"We have some program goals but I think for us the sky is limit," said Montgomery. "Really, the more people (that) sign up as growers, the more opportunities we have."
Syma Habib has recently signed up as a volunteer and says she's looking forward to making a difference.
“An experience that a lot of people who are maybe struggling financially don’t get to have is to have fresh local producer," said Habib. "The ability to harvest it and know somebody gets to have that experience of something that’s been grown in the ground an nourished by me and that they get to eat it feels very special.”
To sign up to donate as a grower or as a volunteer for harvesting, visit Leftovers Foundation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.