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 2005, approximately 8 million pounds of food moved through our warehouse. That amount of food would fill the Winnipeg Stadium waist deep, six times over.
• In 2005, Harvest distributed food each month to 39,265 people.  That is almost the entire population of Brandon, Manitoba’s second largest city.
• 47% of people receiving food from Harvest are children. That is 18,148 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 2005, more than 200,000 volunteer hours were donated to Harvest.  Volunteer time equates to 100 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 the Canadian Association of Food Banks 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 2006