—Leftovers

Since 2012, we’ve been working to make sure that good food doesn’t get wasted. We connect food donors with service agencies through the efforts of our amazing volunteers across Alberta and Manitoba.

Leftovers Hero Image

Our Mission

We rescue and redirect good food from becoming waste by connecting, empowering, and mobilizing communities through logistics, collaboration, and leadership.

Our Vision

Communities where all food reaches its full potential and none is wasted.

Our Impact

1,057,867 lbs redirected in 2023

1,470,426 lbs of CO₂ diverted in 2023

$3,589,353 saved in
2023

Our History

From our founder, Lourdes Juan:

“Back in 2012, I was asked by a cousin to help pick up excess bread from a local bakery that was going to be thrown out. The bakery had a policy to donate food at the end of their day because they would bake more than was needed, every morning, to fill their shelves – people want to buy from businesses with full, aesthetically pleasing displays. The bakery recognized that they didn’t want any fresh food to go to waste, so they developed an ‘End of Day Giving Program.’ When I arrived, there was about 200 lbs. of bread, which basically took up the entire front of the store. My cousin could only take a couple bags worth for the charity he was donating to, so we were left with 100 to 175 lbs. I had no idea where to bring it, but I think the initial shock of seeing that much bread was really eye-opening for someone who doesn’t come from the restaurant or non-profit sector. We took the rest to the drop-in centre, where I knew we could donate food after work hours. When we got there, the gentleman at the loading dock told me they would use the bread by noon the next day – they were serving 3,000 meals a day.”

Timeline

2012
2012

Our first food rescue!

2015
2015

Leftovers’ official incorporation in Alberta.

2017
2017

Expansion to Edmonton.

We also rescued and redirected 5333 lbs of good food from the Calgary Stampede!

2018
2018

Leftovers achieves charitable status.

2019
2019

Release of Rescue Food app.

2020
2020

Official incorporation in Manitoba. Expansion to Winnipeg and Hinton.

2021
2021

Expansion to Airdrie.

We rescued and redirected a total of more than 1,000,000 lbs of food for the first time this year!

2022
2022

The 10th Anniversary of our first food rescue!

2023
2023

Expansion to Red Deer and Lethbridge.

Meet Our Team

Our staff may be dispersed geographically, but we’re united in our determination to make sure good food doesn’t get wasted! Learn more about us!

Board of Directors

These amazing volunteers provide oversight and governance and share their expertise with us. We are so grateful for all of the time and effort our board members put into making sure that Leftovers is the best organization it can be.

Shawna
Perron

Board Chair

Keltie Gower

Vice Chair

Kirsten
Jenner

Treasurer

Thomas Headshot

Thomas
Dyer

Secretary

Farrah
So

Director

Sitara
Fernandes

Director

Bonita
Paquette

Director

Jeffrey
Leachman

Director

Shawna
Perron

Board Chair

Keltie
Gower

Vice Chair

Kirsten
Jenner

Treasurer

Thomas Headshot

Thomas
Dyer

Secretary

Farrah
So

Director

Sitara
Fernandes

Director

Bonita
Paquette

Director

Jeffrey
Leachman

Director

Shawna
Perron

Board Chair

Keltie
Gower

Vice Chair

Kirsten
Jenner

Treasurer         

Thomas Headshot

Thomas
Dyer

Secretary

Farrah
So

Director 

Sitara
Fernandes

Director 

Bonita
Paquette

Director

Jeffrey
Leachman

Director

Donate Today

Charitable # 782983522 RR0001

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Charitable # 782983522 RR0001

Kin Volunteer

We’re currently recruiting volunteers who want to help serve coffee and be a part of a fun new social initiative.

  • Volunteer shifts are 4 hours long
  • Shifts are either 7am-11am or 11am-3pm
  • 2 people are needed per shift, so sign up with your partner or a friend
  • You can volunteer as little or as much as you’d like
  • Sign-ups will be live on the Leftovers Rescue Food app soon

There will be a mandatory in-person training for all new Kin volunteers. This training will be brief, but will go over setup & tear down, food safety, POS terminal instruction and PWYW info.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please send an email to [email protected] expressing which shift and dates you’re interested in covering.

*Please note that all Kin volunteers need to be vaccinated as per YMCA and AHS Covid Policy.*

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Friday, September 30th

Today we are observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We encourage you to read the 94 Calls to Action and commit to working towards at least one of them.

You can also donate to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

COVID-19 Guidelines - Growers

Hello Growers,
THANK YOU for your commitment to reducing food waste and helping those experiencing food insecurity!
Below are some COVID guidelines to keep in mind when requesting a harvest:
  • CANCEL YOUR HARVEST REQUEST if you and/or someone that you have been in contact with is not feeling well, has travelled within 14 days, has been in close contact with a confirmed case of the Coronavirus, or are awaiting test results.
  • If you choose to keep some of the harvested food, please WASH IT BEFORE CONSUMING.
  • Please avoid contact with harvest volunteers. If you do interact with them in person, please ensure you MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCE AND WEAR A MASK
If you have any questions at all, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your help and willingness to be there for our community!

COVID-19 Guidelines

Hello Volunteers,
THANK YOU for your commitment to reducing food waste and helping those experiencing food insecurity!
Below are some COVID guidelines to keep in mind while harvesting on behalf of Home Harvest:
  • You must SIGN A WAIVER prior to attending a harvest
  • Volunteers who sign up in the app must keep a record of everyone who attends each harvest with them so that they can be notified if needed for contact-tracing purposes
  • Please WEAR A MASK throughout the harvest and WASH YOUR HANDS/USE HAND SANITIZER before and after the harvest (and during, if necessary). Contact [email protected] if you’d like a reusable mask.
  • PHYSICAL DISTANCING MUST BE PRACTICED AT ALL TIMES. Please ensure you maintain physical distance from individuals not in your cohort, including other harvest volunteers and growers. 
  • DO NOT HARVEST FOOD if you and/or someone that you have been in close contact with is not feeling well, has travelled within 14 days, has been in contact with a confirmed case of the Coronavirus, or are awaiting test results.
  • SANITIZE SURFACES you come in contact with (fences, gates, tools, equipment) before and after the harvest.
  • LEAVE NO TRACE. Please take home any sanitizing equipment, masks and garbage created throughout the pick. 
  • Practice NO CONTACT DROP OFFS at agencies (ensure that the food is in a safe/covered area).
  • Bags or boxes that you are using to contain/transport the harvested food do not need to be sterilized, but please ensure they are clean.
Please Note: Volunteers are not responsible for washing fruit before donation to charities. Charities that accept fruit donations will be responsible for fruit washing before food preparation and/or eating.
If you have any questions at all, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your help and willingness to be there for our community!
Hello Growers,
THANK YOU for your commitment to reducing food waste and helping those experiencing food insecurity!
Below are some COVID guidelines to keep in mind when requesting a harvest:
  • CANCEL YOUR HARVEST REQUEST if you and/or someone that you have been in contact with is not feeling well, has travelled within 14 days, has been in close contact with a confirmed case of the Coronavirus, or are awaiting test results.
  • If you choose to keep some of the harvested food, please WASH IT BEFORE CONSUMING.
  • Please avoid contact with harvest volunteers. If you do interact with them in person, please ensure you MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCE AND WEAR A MASK
If you have any questions at all, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your help and willingness to be there for our community!

COVID-19 Update

Hello Leftovers Partners and Volunteers,

Your commitment to reducing food waste and increasing food access in our community is so incredibly valued – THANK YOU!

Due to COVID-19, many businesses are temporarily shutting their doors and cancelling events. As a result, we have seen a significant change in the frequency and volume of donations. At the same time, access to food has never been more difficult for many members of our community. Whether it’s students who have been isolated from their only meals of the day, seniors who are at-risk every time they leave home, or the many who have recently lost their jobs due to this crisis, we are seeing an unprecedented need for access to food.

  • Please ensure that all donations are covered/wrapped.
  • Please wear a mask and wash your hands/use sanitizer frequently when handling food donations. Do not touch the food itself. Contact [email protected] if you’d like a reuseable mask.
  • Practice no-contact drop offs at agencies (ensure that the food is in a safe/covered area).
  • Do not rescue food if you and/or someone that you have been in contact with is not feeling well, has travelled within 14 days, or been in contact with a confirmed case of the Coronavirus.

We are posting changes/cancellations to food donation routes on the app as they come in. All routes that are posted on the app are as up-to-date as possible. If a donor or agency tells you they’d like to cancel or change hours, please email this feedback to [email protected] (Calgary), [email protected] (Edmonton) or [email protected] (Winnipeg) so we can update the app.

If you have any questions at all, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your help and willingness to be there for our community!