Grocery stores from Penticton to Kelowna are helping those facing food insecurity, including school children, by donating meals to local charities.
The initiative is through FoodMesh with Georgia Main Food Group含羞草研究社檚 IGA and Fresh St. Market stores, which partners with 220 charities across B.C.
Gary Sorenson, president and Chief Operating Officer of Georgia Main Food Group said the charities distribute the food to people in British Columbia and since 2020, about 3.5 million meals have been donated.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 beyond proud of our store management teams for their diligence going department by department to ensure surplus healthy foods like fruit and vegetables are not being thrown out and wasted and that we can quickly and efficiently get these foods directly to people who need it,含羞草研究社� said Sorenson.
Jessica Regan, CEO and co-founder of FoodMesh pointed out that more than half of the food produced in Canada goes to waste.
含羞草研究社淭hese staggering statistics highlight the deep flaws in Canada含羞草研究社檚 food system. However, in this landscape, Georgia Main has never wavered from its commitment to reducing food waste across its stores,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚n keeping its unsold food out of waste streams, Georgia Main has also averted over five million KG of C02e emissions from entering the atmosphere.含羞草研究社�
A variety of local charities including food banks in Metro Vancouver, the Okanagan, the Sunshine Coast, and other regions of B.C. pick up and distribute the stores含羞草研究社� food donations.
The following IGA stores in the Okanagan partner with area food banks:
含羞草研究社GA Penticton 含羞草研究社� Penticton Soupateria
含羞草研究社GA Summerland 含羞草研究社� Summerland Foodbank and Penticton Soupateria
含羞草研究社GA Peachland 含羞草研究社� Peachland Food Bank
含羞草研究社wo IGA Kelowna locations 含羞草研究社� Central Okanagan Food Bank
含羞草研究社GA Lake Country 含羞草研究社� Lake Country Food Bank
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