—Rescue Food
Rescue Food makes sure surplus good food keeps moving to people who need it. The program empowers volunteers to connect food donors with service agencies distributing food to vulnerable members of our communities.
Here at Leftovers, rescuing food is what we do! The Rescue Food program uses a dedicated app to mobilize and organize volunteers, connecting vendors with excess good food to service agencies in need of food donations for clients experiencing crisis hunger. This program operates in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hinton, and Airdrie, and will be launching in Red Deer and Lethbridge in summer 2023.
1,057,867 lbs redirected in 2023
1,470,426 lbs of CO₂ equivalents diverted in 2023
8,237 routes were completed in 2023
Rescue Food Calgary
The longest-running of our Rescue Food programs, Rescue Food Calgary began with Lourdes Juan’s first trip from a Calgary bakery to a drop-in centre in 2012. Since then, the program has grown exponentially, from rescuing food at the Calgary Stampede in 2017 to redirecting over 200,000 lbs of food during the first months of pandemic lockdowns in 2020.
Rescue Food Calgary also facilitates large-scale donations, with pallets of donated food broken down and distributed from our warehouse, often to service agencies still on the waitlist for regular deliveries through the app.
252,057 lbs redirected in 2023
350,357 lbs of CO₂ equivalents diverted in 2023
2,386 routes were completed in 2023
For more information about Rescue Food Calgary, please contact our Calgary City Coordinator, Liz Dill, [email protected].
Rescue Food Edmonton
In 2017, the Rescue Food program expanded to Edmonton, and since then, the program has grown to equal Calgary in volume. In 2021, our WastED Webinar presented different perspectives on food rescue, waste reduction, and the need for food access programming in Edmonton. (Check out some of those episodes here!)
In 2024, Leftovers launched a pilot project offering both food rescue and composting services to businesses in Sherwood Park and Westlock. This project was launched in cooperation with the Circular Innovation Council and Strathcona County.
Rescue Food Edmonton runs without a home base, meaning that all of the food we redistribute in Edmonton is done by volunteer drivers (or cyclists or walkers!) through the app. We also operate in the surrounding area, including Spruce Grove and Sherwood Park. Look for us tabling at events throughout the city!
166,520 lbs redirected in 2023
231,460 lbs of CO₂ equivalents diverted in 2023
2,430 routes were completed in 2023
For more information about Rescue Food Edmonton, please contact our Edmonton City Coordinator, Wol Abiamwol, [email protected].
Rescue Food Winnipeg
Rescue Food Winnipeg launched in November 2020 and quickly became our highest volume Rescue Food program. Working closely with Red River Co-op, Rescue Food Winnipeg redirects, on average, more than 50,000 lbs of food per month! Much of that food comes through the Winnipeg warehouse, where dedicated volunteers break down large-scale donations for distribution to service agencies who can use the food to feed vulnerable Winnipeggers.
Look for us tabling at the Wolseley Farmers Market this summer!
572,951 lbs redirected
in 2023
796,401 lbs of CO₂ equivalents diverted in 2023
2,654 routes were completed in 2023
For more information about Rescue Food Winnipeg, please contact our Winnipeg City Coordinator, Alyssa Wolfe, [email protected].
Rescue Food Lethbridge
Since 2023, we have been rescuing food in Lethbridge! You can find us tabling and participating in community events throughout the year. We are overjoyed to be collaborating with Volunteer Lethbridge and other local organizations.
5,265 lbs redirected
in 2023
7,318 of CO₂ equivalents diverted in 2023
74 routes were completed in 2023
For more information about Rescue Food Lethbridge, please contact our Lethbridge City Coordinator, Apollo Lelond, [email protected].
Rescue Food Red Deer
We have been rescuing food in Red Deer since the summer of 2023! Find us attending events and tabling around the city this summer of 2024. We are active members of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce and currently engaging with many community organizations.
1,385 lbs redirected
in 2023
1,385 of CO₂ equivalents diverted in 2023
56 routes were completed in 2023
For more information about Rescue Food Red Deer, please contact our Red Deer City Coordinator, Beverley Beckley, [email protected].
As a volunteer, you choose what routes work best for you. Download our app to start rescuing and delivering food.
Want to donate food or receive food? Read about how food donors and service agencies can get involved.
