Best to Give "The Means" to the Poor - Winnipeg Free Press

"CANADIANS are incredibly generous. According to the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, almost 23 million Canadians -- 84 per cent of the population aged 15 and over -- made a financial donation to a charitable or other nonprofit organization in 2007..."

Best to give 'the means' to the poor - Winnipeg Free Press

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Trying to Change the World Changes You - Winnipeg Free Press

(photo courtesty of: JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

Harvest volunteer Edwina Thomas, right, with Free Press intern Shelley Cook.

"Three years ago, I decided I was going to change the world. Inspired by my first semester in university, and all of the new-found knowledge and insight I had acquired in those four months, I decided I needed to do something to help others in need..."

Trying to change the world changes you - Winnipeg Free Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press, print edition: December 24, 2009.

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Thank You Corus Radio and Winnipeg Airport Authority

(left to right) David Northcott, Winnipeg Harvest; Garth Butchko, General Manager, Corus Radio Winnipeg; Barry Rempel, CEO of the Winnipeg Airport Authority. 

Launching the Hunger for Hope campaign with large baby bottles used to collect funds for Winnipeg Harvest and Hunger for Hope 'Because No Child Should Go To Bed Hungry!'.

Thank You Delta Hotel

(left to right): Louis Trepel, Empty Bowls co-chair, Winnipeg Harvest; Helen Halliday, Delta Hotel; Jeff Patton, Delta Hotel; and David Northcott, Executive Coordinator, Winnipeg Harvest, at the Delta Winter Festive Party Winnipeg Harvest recognized the Delta staff and corporate donation to the Empty Bowls Campaign.

Thank You Standard Aero

Gary Post and Henry Bretonne of Standard Aero delivering 2,113 pounds of food, collected during their food drive for Winnipeg Harvest. 

Many thanks!

Thank You Winnipeg Goldeyes

(left to right: Andrew Collier, GM, Winnipeg Goldeyes; Goldie; David Northcott, Executive Coordinator, Winnipeg Harvest and Carol Morris, General Manager, Winnipeg Harvest with the Goldeyes donation.)
Thanks for your continued support!

Thank You Centre Place Cafe

David Northcott, Executive Coordinator of Winnipeg Harvest with Frieda Rutherford, the Centre Place Cafe Manager, receiving a donation of funds collected through her "Pennies from Heaven" booth designated for Winnipeg Harvest and the Christmas Cheer Board.
Thanks for your super effort, Frieda!

Thank You True North Sports and Entertainment

 

Many thanks to the True North Sports and Entertainment employees for their enthusiastic help in the Winnipeg Harvest warehouse during their staff service day!

Thank You 3M

(left to right: Len Gregoire, 3M; David Northcott, Winnipeg Harvest; Marina McGlenen, 3M and Brett MacNeil, 3M)

Thanks to 3M for your generous donation.

Thank You Purolator

(left to right: David Northcott, Trent Shuttleworth & Dave Robinson from Purolator)

Every time a CFL Quarter back was sacked during the 2009 regular season, Purolator committed to donate his weight in food to the local food bank. During the Winnipeg Blue Bombers home games, there were 28 Quarterback sacks, which resulted in 7,000 pounds of food. Thank you, Purolator!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from everyone at the Winnipeg Harvest team. We all hope you've had a safe and happy December!

UPS "Moving About the Community"

Colin Giesbrecht and Bruce Michalski

In the last year, Winnipeg Harvest has moved 10 million pounds of food.

Puzzled on how it’s done?

WINNIPEG, December 7, 2009 – Winnipeg Harvest needs to replace some of the trucks in its fleet so that it can continue to move food to over 40,000 Manitobans each month. Winnipeg UPS Stores are launching the “Moving About the Community” Campaign on Tuesday, December 8 at The UPS Store at 1400 Ellice Avenue at 1 p.m. The Winnipeg UPS Stores are calling on all businesses or individuals to purchase a portion of a new cube van.

“The warehouse operation at Winnipeg Harvest has 10 trucks on the road six days a week. The trucks transport food to local shelters, soup kitchens, community food banks and children’s programs throughout Manitoba”, states Bruce Michalski, Director of Development at Winnipeg Harvest. “Moving food to people who need it is critical to our daily operations, and our trucks are essential in allowing us to carry forth our mission.”

"The UPS Stores of Winnipeg are working with Winnipeg Harvest to help transport food to the hungry. As a courier service, the Winnipeg UPS Stores understand the importance of distribution in a timely manner, supporting Harvest's mandate to distribute food to those who are hungry”, says Iain Scott of The UPS Store. The UPS Stores of Winnipeg will kick off the campaign with a generous donation for the first piece of the puzzle towards a new truck for food transport.

Donations for the “Moving About the Community Campaign can be made to Winnipeg Harvest at 1085 Winnipeg Avenue or by phone at 982-3673. Winnipeg Harvest is a non-profit community based organization committed to providing food to people who are struggle to feed themselves and their families and continue to work to reduce poverty while continuing to maximize public awareness of hunger.

For more information about Winnipeg Harvest or The UPS Store’s “Moving About the Community” Campaign, please contact: Chris Albi, Communications Coordinator, Winnipeg Harvest. (204) 982-3584 (work).

Bruce Michalski with the UPS gang

Empty Bowl Auction

Signed by Winnipeg media personalities, athletes, and musicians who sing on the recording of the holiday single "Empty Bowl Winter." All proceeds from the song and auction to support Winnipeg Harvest.

Deadline for bidding is Monday, December 21 at noon. Bid updates will appear reguarly on the homepage of the Winnipeg Harvest website. To bid, please call Shannon at 1 (204) 982-3669.

Harvesting Hope

Listen to CBC Radio's Harvesting Hope in support of Winnipeg Harvest. Tune in from 6am-6pm on Friday, December 11, and listen throughout the day as various people associated with Winnipeg Harvest will tell their personal stories.

David Northcott, Executive Director of Winnipeg Harvest, will be on all three shows throughout the day, and co-hosting with Margaux Watt from 3-6pm.

A special phoneline will be set up for listeners to call in with donations.

Helping Hands

From December 5 - 19, all shoppers are encouraged to Bring a Tin for the Bin, or cash donation to any Winnipeg Superstore or Extra Foods for the Helping Hands food drive in support of Winnipeg Harvest.

Fame for Food

Citytv and Sobeys are hosting "Fame for Food" December 5, 2009 at the Sobeys on 1150 Taylor Ave., and 1870 Burrows Ave. between 10am and 5pm.

Bring food or a cash donation to either location, and record a 15 second greeting that will appear on Citytv between Christmas and New Years.

See you there!

CP Rail Holiday Train

Join us for the CP Rail Holiday Train

Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 2pm.
At the railway crossing between Monroe and Panet.
Musical Guests: the ODDS

For more information, please visit the CP Rail site.

Singing for Supper Concert

The Singing for Supper event was a great success, the music provided by Tom Jackson, Shannon Gaye, and Pear, was fantastic and well received by a sold-out audience.

Tom Jackson with back-up musicians

Husband and wife duo - Pear

Shannon Gaye

More Empty Bowls Gala Photos...

The remainder of the photos from Winnipeg Harvest's Empty Bowls Gala have arrived:

Mort Walker display

Welcoming set at the doors into the Delta Hotel ballroom

Checking out the merchandise

Steve Vogelsang, the auctioneer in action.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this event the success that it was!

Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction in the Winnipeg Free Press

Celebrity bowls will help feed city's hungry - Winnipeg Free Press

Bowl fundraiser brings in $235K - Winnipeg Free Press

Celebrity bowls auctioned off today - Winnipeg Free Press

Hunger bites -- buy this bowl! - Winnipeg Free Press

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Empty Bowls Gala Video

Thanks to Cindy Dandewich for making and sharing this video with us.

The Empty Bowls Gala

The 2009 Empty Bowls Gala was a huge success!

The event raised over $235,000, with the highest bidding bowl (Leonard Cohen's) going for $2,500.

The second-highest bids for bowls, belonging to Chef Michael Smith and Sir Elton John, went for $2,100 each, and the third-highest bids for bowls, belonging to Jordan Van Sewell (who made the ceramic piece, as well as decorated it) and Muhammad Ali, went for $1,800 each.

The night went off perfectly, and everyone enjoyed themselves, from the dinner of simple soups and breads to the auctioning of the celebrity-designed bowls.

Thanks again to everyone who made this night a complete success.

Elton John

Leonard Cohen

Mohammad Ali

Chef Michael Smith

Jordan Van Sewell

Singing For Supper

Come join Winnipeg Harvest on Friday, November 27 for the annual Singing for Supper concert.
The Evening of Song & Celebration includes music by Tom Jackson, Pear, and Shannon Gaye.

Friday, November 27, 2009 at St. Ignatius Church (255 Stafford St. at Corydon Ave.)
Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.
Doors open at 6:15pm, show starts at 7:00pm.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at 780-7333 or online: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/

For more information, please visit: http://www.singingforsupper.ca/ or http://www.winnipegharvest.org/

All proceeds go to Winnipeg Harvest

CBC Manitoba + The Empty Bowls Gala

Read the article  that was posted on Twitter by @CBCManitoba:

Food bank auction raises $225K

By CBC News

Elton John, Neil Young, Muhammad Ali and Angelina Jolie were among the celebrities who provided specially decorated and autographed bowls to be auctioned off for a Winnipeg food bank.

Elton John, Neil Young, Muhammad Ali and Angelina Jolie were among the celebrities who provided specially decorated and autographed bowls to be auctioned off Tuesday evening for a Winnipeg food bank.

The celebrities weren't on hand for the Empty Bowls Auction, but their creations were, and when the bidding was done, the bowls helped raise $225,000 for Winnipeg Harvest food bank.

The top bid was $2,500 for a bowl donated by Leonard Cohen.

"The beauty of it is that ? every dollar donated can lever that amount 20 times [in food value]," said event co-chair Barry McArton. "So a quarter-million dollars turns into $5 million worth of food."

And the event cost Harvest nothing to put on, so everything raised goes directly to the food bank, he said.

"Everything's been donated ? all the food, all the courier services, all the staff for [the] event," he said.

The need for the food bank's services is constantly growing, McArton said.

There was a 21 per cent increase in people using Winnipeg Harvest in September 2009, compared to September 2008.

Bring a Tin for the Bin

Winnipeg Harvest collected 1,565 pounds of food at yesterday's Bombers game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
We'll have the total number of pounds of food collected for the season up shortly.

Winnipeg Free Press Editorial

The following editorial was written by Larry McIntosh for Winnipeg Harvest. It appeared in the Friday, November 6, 2009 edition of the Winnipeg Free Press:

I am very honoured and proud to be involved with Winnipeg Harvest for over 14 years. It is truly an amazing organization that is kept running not only by donations of food and money but also by hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours with many of the volunteers being clients of the Food Bank.

I have come to learn that Winnipeg Harvest does a lot more than help those less fortunate with food. They also assist by developing and providing programs to help food bank clients in their journey to get out of poverty. Nobody wants to live in poverty and more often than not they have been struck by circumstances that could have happened to any one of us. It is really Programs to Help Food Bank Clients unfortunate in a country as rich as Canada that food banks are needed at all. It is sad that over 47% of food bank recipients are children and I can only imagine how hard it is to learn and grow when you are hungry.

Everyone hopes that one day the need for food banks will end and that their doors can be closed forever. However, until that happens, I am thankful every single day that Winnipeg Harvest is there to help our fellow Manitobans as they go through tough times.

About 3000 people a month no longer require support from Harvest and are replaced by new immigrants, EI recipients, the working poor, pensioners and those that have lost their jobs. Peak of the Market annually donates almost a 1,000,000 pounds of food each year to Harvest to help all Manitobans and is just one of the
many companies that support the work of Harvest.

Make a donation to the Empty Bowls and help
feed the children of Manitoba. Call 982-FOOD
or visit www.winnipegharvest.org.

Larry McIntosh is the President & C.E.O of Peak of the Market

Winnipeg Harvest - Leave a Legacy

We are honoured that you would consider leaving your legacy of service to the community through Planned Giving to Winnipeg Harvest. We are a registered charity committed to sharing surplus food with people who are hungry, so your gift will go directly to help those who are most vulnerable in our community.

For more information, click here.
To view the Winnipeg Harvest Leave a Legacy brochure, click here.

Staples/Winnipeg Goldeyes Tools for Schools Drive

Here is a video clip of the Staples/Winnipeg Goldeyes Tools for School Drive media event on October 21, 2009.

October Team Member

Thanks again to the sailors of HMCS Winnipeg for volunteering at Winnipeg Harvest!

September Team Member

Congratulations Al French, Brian Janzen, and Rob O'Donovan on becoming the September 2009
Winnipeg Harvest Team Member of the Month.

(our apologies about the lateness of this post)

The Empty Bowls

Here is a sneak peak of the 55+ bowls that are up for auction at the Empty Bowls Gala at the Delta Hotel on November 10, 2009.

For more information about the Empty Bowls Gala, visit the Winnipeg Harvest Website.

Empty Bowls Ambassadors Luncheon

The media was invited to attend Wednesday's Empty Bowls Ambassadors Luncheon at the Winnipeg Harvest office. This luncheon was geared to provide an overview of the work that Winnipeg Harvest does, to provide more details about the Empty Bowls Gala being held on November 10th, and to invite them to be ambassadors on behalf of Winnipeg Harvest.

Barry McArton, co-chair of the Empty Bowls committee, presented information on Winnipeg Harvest and the Gala, while David Northcott and Lee Newton provided glimpses into the work Winnipeg Harvest does.

(Barry McArton, co-chair of the Empty Bowls committee)

(media guests)

(media guests)

Winnipeg Free Press Editorials

The following editorial was written by Winnipeg Harvest's Executive Coordinator, David Northcott, for the Winnipeg Free Press. It appeared in last Saturday's edition of the Winnipeg Free Press.

More than ever, Winnipeg Harvest needs your support. We want to give those we share food with a hand up. Never has the need been greater.

Between September of 2008 and September of 2009, the increase in the number of kids, ages 6-18, that Winnipeg Harvest shares food with is up, by nearly 24%, from 12,000 to 15,000. The total number of people Winnipeg Harvest shares food with jumped by 21% over that same period, to over 39,000.

There are three additional areas where we experienced similar increases that concern us; the number of EI recipients, the number of people with no income and the number of working poor who rely on Winnipeg Harvest to make ends meet all increased over the same one year period.

The decline in the economy has brought an increased demand for the service Winnipeg Harvest provides. As much as anyone, we are hopeful of a recovery in both the Canadian and Global economy. More living wage jobs and a strengthening of our social safety net are both assets for all Canadians.

The Empty Bowls program is an initiative designed to raise funds to address the need. On November 10, 2009, Winnipeg Harvest is hosting the Empty Bowls Celebrity Auction at the Delta Winnipeg. Our message of feeding the hungry continues. You can make an incredible difference by making a donation to the Empty Bowls event. Did you know that for every $20.00 donated, Harvest can move $400.00 worth of food? Will you help us make a difference? 

Make a donation today to the Empty Bowls event. Please call 982-FOOD or donate online at www.winnipegharvest.org

David Northcott is Executive Coordinator of Winnipeg Harvest.

 

Winnipeg Free Press Editorials

This editorial was written by Pat Isaak for Winnipeg Harvest, it appeared in last Friday's edition of the Winnipeg Free Press.

 

Each day, Manitoba teachers witness the effects of students coming to school hungry. We know there is a direct relationship between healthy nutrition and the academic achievement of our students. Adequate food improves a child’s ability to comprehend, grow and develop.  A child who is hungry has difficulty concentrating, is more easily distracted and what may seem to be a behavioral problem may be a reaction to not having breakfast before coming to school. Unfortunately, thousands of students will show up to school hungry this morning.  

Winnipeg Harvest has been helping Manitoba’s schools for years by providing food to children who would otherwise go hungry. There are 27 school programs in place, with 23 schools on a waiting list.

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and teachers in communities in every corner of this province work with Winnipeg Harvest to help students get the nutrition they need to do well in school. For many the meal they get at school may be their only meal of the day.  
On the flip side, teachers organize projects in schools such as food donations and drives. They and their students volunteer at Harvest and contribute to programs like Operation Donation and the Empty Bowls Program. Last year, with the involvement, support and commitment of Manitoba’s students and teachers, Winnipeg Harvest collected 55 tons of food for hungry families.   

By participating in these important initiatives, teachers are showing their students that by working together we can all make a difference.  
There have been over 50 Empty Bowls School Programs throughout the province that have contributed nearly $60,000 to help low-income families in Manitoba.

Make a donation today to the Empty Bowls event. Please call 982-FOOD or donate online at www.winnipegharvest.org

Pat Isaak is the President of the Manitoba Teachers Society.

Bring a Tin for the Bin

Winnipeg Harvest collected 1,019 pounds of food at Saturday's Bomber game. Thanks again Winnipeg Harvest fans!

Jewish Post Article

The article that our Social Media Coordinator wrote for The Jewish Post & News is now available to read in the Oct. 21 edition of the paper.

Visit http://www.jewishpostandnews.com to find out how you can pick up a copy of The Jewish Post & News to read the article about the Empty Bowls Gala.

Winnipeg Free Press Editorials

Cameron Cross wrote this editorial for Winnipeg Harvest, which appeared in last Thursday's edition of the Winnipeg Free Press.

The concept behind Empty Bowls is simple. Students create and design ceramic bowls. Students then invite the community for a simple meal of soup and bread. Students then sell their bowls to community members-all money raised goes directly to assist Winnipeg Harvest. Purchased bowls are then left empty at home as a reminder that there are many Empty Bowls in the world.

The initiative was first started in Michigan in 1995 by a teacher who wanted to make a difference.  It's classic. Art vs. Hunger.  I came back to Winnipeg motivated.  I emailed Winnipeg Harvest about the idea and we've been working together ever since.

Empty Bowls is a simple project that helps get young people thinking and doing something about the issue of hunger in their community.
 
Empty Bowls provides the vehicle for students of all ages to take ownership of a problem, and tackle it head on. Through Empty Bowls, and with the guidance of their teachers, students go on a journey of learning, social activism and raising money for hunger education and more specifically, for Winnipeg Harvest. 

Empty Bowls has now become a significant fundraiser for Winnipeg Harvest - through the schools initiatives as well as the Celebrity Bowl auction.  As much as we all like to see the thousands of dollars being raised for Winnipeg Harvest, the true strength of Empty Bowls lies in it's power to engage young people to think; take action and become empathetic members of our society. I believe young people are eager to find concrete ways of making a difference. 

Over 50 Empty Bowl School programs throughout the province have contributed nearly $60,000 to help families in Manitoba.

Make a donation today to the Empty Bowls event. Please call 982-FOOD or donate at www.winnipegharvest.org

Cameron Cross is an Artist and a Visual Art Consultant for the Pembina Trails School Division

HMCS Winnipeg Flag Presentation

(Coxswain Dave Bliss, Flagmaker Fleurien Lizotte, Captain Rob Ferguson and crew of the HMCS Winnipeg)

Winnipeg Harvest took the time yesterday to recognize the HMCS Winnipeg and some of their crew members for their long standing support of us in our mission of distributing surplus food to Manitobans.

We have presented them with a flag and made them Volunteers of the Month. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule this week to volunteer at Winnipeg Harvest!

Congratulations and best wishes from all of us.

Bring a Tin for the Bin

We're (once again) reminding all Bomber fans who are attending tomorrow's game against the Montreal Alouettes to Bring a Tin for the Bin in support of Winnipeg Harvest. We collected over 1000 pounds of food from the last game, and we're hoping to collect even more tins after this game!

A Record Year for Staples Tools for School Campaign

Staples Business Depot partnered with Winnipeg Harvest and the Winnipeg Goldeyes for the Staples Tools for School campaign which ran from July 19 - September 15. Winnipeg residents were encouraged to drop off school supplies at Staples Business Depot locations and Winnipeg Goldeyes games so that Winnipeg Harvest could distribute the supplies to students as they return to school.

This year proved to be a record one for Staples, as the Staples Tools for School campaign wrapped up yesterday afternoon. Staples is pleased to announce that $30,632 was raised and 2410 children were sent to school with new school supplies.

Winnipeg Harvest executive coordinator, David Northcott said, "Although we are in tough economic times, it is more critical than ever that kids move forward in their life journey standing on a solid foundation of a good education – 'Tools for School' helps us all get there.”

The retired teachers who volunteered their time to run the annual school supply drive said they know the importance of these tools in a child’s education. Without the proper tools, these children can find it difficult to complete the schoolwork that will shape their own success and the educational health of their community.

Winnipeg Harvest and the children send a huge thank you to everyone who supported the Tools for School drive this year. 

 

Sharon Kerdes, winner of the $1000 shopping spree, with excited Staples store managers

 

Sharon Kerdes, winner of the $1000 shopping spree receiving her gift card from Staples District Manager Michael Dutka.

Key Thoughts about Winnipeg Harvest

Our Social Media Coordinator wrote an article for the Winnipeg Jewish Post & News about the 4th Annual Empty Bowls Gala. Barry McArton and Louis Trepel, the two co-chairs of the event, pointed out some excellent facts about Winnipeg Harvest and about poverty in Winnipeg, and in Manitoba.

For example:

• Winnipeg Harvest provides food to 320 food agencies in Manitoba. They supply food and supplies to many soup kitchens in Winnipeg, including Siloam Mission and Harbour Light.
• Approximately 3000 people a month leave the services of Winnipeg Harvest. Most of these people are new immigrants to Canada and need a boost - such as a job (or job training) and food. They do not rely on Winnipeg Harvest on a day-to-day basis.
• The majority of people who volunteer at Winnipeg Harvest are food recipients.
• Food banks are everywhere in Winnipeg - they are in River Heights, Tuxedo, The Maples, and Southdale (to name a few areas of the city). They are not just located in the hard-hit areas.

Barry McArton said something key about Winnipeg Harvest:

"If I lost my job today, I would do anything to feed my kids tomorrow. Where would the community be without Winnipeg Harvest? Winnipeg Harvest is a key organization to a large part of the community. They ask for nothing. They receive no funding from the government or from the United Way. They ask for food. That's it."

The article will be published in the October 27 edition of the Winnipeg Jewish Post & News.

Singing for Supper

More information coming soon

Bring a Tin for the Bin Info

Winnipeg, you are amazing!!
After yesterday's Bomber game, we collected 1072 pounds of food.
Keep up the great donation work, and we'll see you next game on October 24.

Bring a Tin for the Bin

We just wanted to send out a quick message to remind you to bring a tin for the bin to tomorrow's game against the B.C. Lions.

After the last game, we were able to accumulate over 900 pounds of food. We're so happy everyone came out and supported Winnipeg Harvest at the game. Hopefully we'll be able to collect even more food this time.

We're keeping our fingers crossed for another win for the Blue Bombers!

Sons of York Thank Winnipeg Harvest

Our Winnipeg Harvest Social Media Coordinator received this message from Jake Kennerd, bassist of the Sons of York:

"My brothers and I were more than pleased with how the night turned out. Those who attended got to see some great local live music - Quinzy and the Paps absolutely lit up the stage. All the bands made new fans and Winnipeg Harvest got their message out to a new and large audience. We were honored to be a part of Winnipeg Rocks for Harvest, and we hope they'll have us back next year."

(The Winnipeg Harvest crew with Winnipeg Rocks for Harvest's MC:Bubba B)

Donors in Thanksgiving spirit - Winnipeg Free Press

Share Your Thanks food drive covered by the Winnipeg Free Press:

Donors in Thanksgiving spirit - Winnipeg Free Press

Share Your Thanks Food Sorting Pics

The Share Your Thanks event at Winnipeg Harvest was a huge success! Over 200 people came together to help sort food that will restock the shelves at Winnipeg Harvest. We are hoping to beat last year's number of 170,000 pounds of food. We'll let you know by the end of October!

In the meantime, here are some pics from Saturday:

(Truck drivers picked up the donations)

(People of all ages helped out)

(There was pie for everyone!)

(smiling volunteers)

(Lunchtime)

(Sherri Walsh, Winnipeg Harvest Board President)

(Volunteers sorting donations)

Thanks again to all of Winnipeg Harvest's hard-working volunteers!