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Emergency RESPONSE ProgramS

With our extensive network, we ensure that surplus food reaches those in urgent need, reducing waste and providing vital relief.

Responding to crisis

Second harvest is equipped to respond to social and environmental emergencies, including wildfires, floods and other community crises.

Support from our donors, sponsors, communities, and the Canadian government make it possible for Second Harvest to respond quickly to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on providing resources and support through three pillars: invest, respond, and connect.

Thanks to Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and the generosity of The Sprott Foundation, we established two emergency funds to support communities across Canada with funding for food programming and grocery gift cards. 

Since April 2020, Second Harvest has supported over 1,800 charities and non-profit organizations with over $28 million in emergency funding during the pandemic. 

Emergency Funding Program During COVID-19

Recipients

People volunteering

2020 Emergency fund Recipients

Download the list of emergency fund recipients from 2020.

‍2020 Grocery Gift Card Fund Recipients

Download the list of grocery gift card fund recipients from 2020.

Food Recovery Network

PEI Food Recovery Network

Aiming to reduce food waste in PEI and provide it to people in need.

Our generous supporters make it possible for us to help so many Canadians — especially when they need us most.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for our Emergency Funding Program during the pandemic.

Thank you to our generous supporters of the Second Harvest Grocery Gift Card Fund.

Nearly 1 in 4 people in Canada don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Donations help us rescue food, reduce our carbon footprint and provide good food to millions of Canadians in need.