We are a non-profit, community-based organization.  We collect and share surplus food with people who are hungry.  Our ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for food banks in our community.

• Winnipeg Harvest was founded in 1984 by Lee Newton, and the warehouse opened its doors in 1985.  Harvest operates independent of government support.
• Harvest responds to two conditions: hungry people and surplus food.
  
• Harvest looks to our community for support in terms of food, time and money.
• Surplus food is harvested from food manufacturers and distributors, farmers and gardeners, and through food drives, special events and individual donations.
• Harvest packages and distributes this food to more than 300 neighbourhood outlets in Winnipeg and sixteen food banks in rural Manitoba, which then give food to people in their community.
• In its first year of operation, Harvest distributed 200,000 pounds of food. In 2008, approximately 8.7 million pounds of food moved through our warehouse. That amount of food would fill the Winnipeg Stadium waist deep, six times over.
• In 2008, Harvest distributed food each month to 40,000 people.  That is almost the entire population of Brandon, Manitoba’s second largest city.
• 45% of people receiving food from Harvest are children. That is 18,000 per month.
• Approximately half of Harvest volunteers are people who need to use a food bank.
• The ratio of volunteer hours to paid staff hours is 8:1.  In 2008, more than 285,000 volunteer hours were donated to Harvest.  Volunteer time equates to 113 full time staff working year round.
• Harvest receives monetary help from a variety of sources, such as foundations, service clubs and individuals. People can also donate through planned gifts and memorials.
• Harvest is a founding member of Food Banks Canada and adheres to a national Code of Ethics.
• Harvest conducts surveys on hunger and poverty in Manitoba. It shares these statistics with social agencies, legislators, researchers, faith communities, universities, schools, and the general public.

Source:  Winnipeg Harvest Inc.  Charitable registration number: 13179 2616 RR0001

Updated February 2009