—Volunteer

It’s easy to become a part of the Leftovers community and keep good food out of landfills! Download the Leftovers Rescue Food App and sign up, then choose the routes that work best for your schedule.

Volunteers are the heart of everything we do at Leftovers. Our Rescue Food volunteers transport food safely from donors to service agencies, Home Harvest volunteers make sure that the fresh produce from backyard gardens and fruit trees helps benefit vulnerable community members, and warehouse volunteers separate and repack big donations of good food for agencies that might still be waiting for Rescue Food routes of their own–or just need a bit extra for the people they support. Rescuing food can be as convenient as stopping off at a local business on your way home. Or challenge yourself to learn more about the city you live in with a route that’s out of your normal area! Either way, you’re getting good food to the people who need it most.

“Reducing food waste is something that matters to me, so I started researching community groups dedicated to this. When I found Leftovers, I started with a few rescues in Calgary; then, I inquired about extending the service to Airdrie. Leftovers was supportive and helped me to get things going here. I am so pleased it worked out, and I can now rescue food in my own community.”

— Jane Miller, Airdrie

How Does it Work?

Your volunteer journey with Leftovers starts with the Rescue Food App, available in the App Store and on Google Play.

By downloading the Rescue Food App, you consent to receiving email communications from Leftovers.

Sign up in the app and select your city to see what opportunities are currently available. Rescue Food routes, and Home Harvest opportunities (June through September) will be listed in the app. Warehouse shifts are available in Calgary and Winnipeg. Contact your City Coordinator for more information! Choose the opportunity with the time, date, and location(s) that work best for you, and you’re ready to prevent good food from being wasted!

374 active volunteers in 2023

8,237 routes completed in 2023

5,789 volunteer hours completed in 2023

Not sure that you have the time/ability to volunteer, but still want to support Leftovers?

—Volunteer

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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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