January 15, 2013 by Duncan M. Stokes

Duncan M. Stokes

As we have rolled into 2013, students have two tasks at hand. Study for end of semester exams and register schools for Operation Donation.

In 2012, 75 Manitoba schools collected 43,233 lbs. (19,610 kg) in food donations, while Manitoba Public Insurance gathered up 12,312 lbs. (5584 kg) for food.

Count matching weight donations by both Peak of the Market and Canada Safeway making for a total of 166,635 lbs. (75,584 kg) of food donations collected in 2012.

For more information of how your school can take part in Operation Donation 2013, click here.

Keep those pennies coming in!

Since the Federal Government announced last spring they were discontinuing making the penny and Winnipeg Harvest launched its turn pennies into dollars campaign, more than $7,000 worth of coin has been dropped off as a donation to us. Thank you!

Your donation will make a huge difference. For every $1 in donation Winnipeg Harvest receives, we are able to leverage $20 worth of food. Nearly 64,000 Manitobans rely on food banks each month.  

For more information on how to donate your pennies call us at 982-3581 or visit our website at www.winnipegharvest.org

 

Kudos to Shelley Cook, columnist at The Metro Winnipeg!  

He ‘Humphrey Bogart’ creation was the most popular local celebrity creation at the grand opening if the Tutti Fruitti Frozen Yogurt location at Polo Park.  

As a result of her win, it’s our win too. Tutti Fruitti Frozen Yogurt will now make a donation to Winnipeg Harvest of $500.00.

 

Any view and/or  opinion expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Winnipeg Harvest, its staff or volunteers.

November 26, 2012

 

Duncan M. Stokes

Over 20 years ago, Canadian Musician/Actor Tom Jackson began a project called The Huron Carole. It was developed as a group of musical entertainers who shared the common goal to raise funds and awareness for Canada’s hungry.

 

For the first time since 2004, The Huron Carole is back. This year, Tom is joined by fellow artists Sarah Slean, Matt Dusk, Susan Aglukark and Dell Barber for a 23-city tour this year.

 

The group (minus Barber) will be stopping in Winnipeg December 3 at the Centennial Concert Hall starting at 8:00 PM. Proceeds from The Huron Carole will be donated to Winnipeg Harvest.

 

 

Congratulations to all the recipients Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals. More than 60,000 medals were awarded this year, to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada.

 

Winnipeg Harvest was thrilled when six people it nominated for the medal were chosen as recipients, having been judged as having made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada.

 

The following people will be awarded medals for their contributions, as nominated by Winnipeg Harvest. 

 

 

1.         Garth Buchko, Winnipeg Football Club

2.         John Graham, Canada Safeway

3.         Larry McIntosh, Peak of the Market

4.         Rhoda Kernested, Teulon & District Food Bank

5.         Ann Ledwich, long-time volunteer at Winnipeg Harvest

6.         Marla Somersall, Executive Director, Samaritan Ministries

 

 

Winnipeg Harvest will again be welcoming 107.9 CJNU-FM on site. They will be broadcasting live from 1095 Winnipeg Avenue from November 28 through December 23 this year and we are once again pleased to be the host sponsor for them again through the lead-up to the holiday season.

 

Listen for interviews with Winnipeg Harvest team members and supporters as well as the wonderful music which makes 107.9 FM unique to Winnipeg.

 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Winnipeg Harvest, its staff or volunteers.

 

 

 

June 11, 2012

Duncan M. Stokes

Good luck to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2012! And thank you from Winnipeg Harvest.  At the Sunday June 4^th Open Practice, visitors donated more than 200 lbs. of food and nearly $1500 in cash donations was collected for WPG Harvest at Sunday's practice.

LET'S GO BLUE!

Keep those pennies coming in! Since Winnipeg harvest launched its turn pennies into dollars campaign in April, nearly $2,200 worth of coin has been dropped donated to us. Thank you!

Your donation will make a huge difference. For every $1 in donation Winnipeg Harvest receives, we are able to leverage $20 worth of food. More than 55,000 Manitobans rely on food banks each month.

For more information on how to donate your pennies call us at 982-3581 or visit our website at www.winnipegharvest.org

 With ‘Dallas’ coming back to the tube this week, Winnipeg Harvest has something all fans of the show may want from the character everyone loves…or loves to hate.

Larry Hagman (a.k.a. J-R Ewing) has signed a bowl (see photo) for this year’s Empty Bowl Celebrity Auction, presented by Manitoba Lotteries, October 9^th at the Delta Winnipeg. Hagman’s bowl is one of many that guests will have a chance to bid on at this year’s auction.

But you’ll have to attend the 2012 Empty Bowl Celebrity Auction to find out ‘Who bought J-R?’

Visit our Facebook page to see who else has autographed a bowl for Winnipeg Harvest.

http://www.facebook.com/winnipegharvestemptybowls

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Winnipeg Harvest, its staff or volunteers.

May 29, 2012

Duncan M. Stokes

Good luck to the Winnipeg Goldeyes in tonight’s home opener.

If you plan on going to tonight’s game, or any other Goldeyes home game in 2012, don’t forget to bring a Tin for the Bin.

Go Fish!

  

Did you know that over the last year, volunteers at Winnipeg Harvest put in more than 347,000 hours of time?

That’s the equivalent of 147 full time jobs.  

The work of the volunteers at Winnipeg harvest will be celebrated with an appreciation day in June.

Thank you to all volunteers.

And thank you Hockey Great Bobby Hull!

The ‘Golden Jet’ was kind enough to autograph a bowl for Winnipeg Harvest for the 2012 Empty Bowl Celebrity Auction, set for October 9^th at the Delta Winnipeg.

So did his ‘Hotline’ line mate Ulf Nilsson.

Check out our Facebook page to see what other celebrities have helped out Winnipeg Harvest by autographing a bowl.

http://www.facebook.com/winnipegharvestemptybowls

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Winnipeg Harvest, its staff or volunteers.

May 28, 2012

Duncan Stokes

Congratulations to David Northcott, executive director at Winnipeg Harvest.

David’s vision and leadership in co-founding Winnipeg Harvest back in 1984 and dedicating so much of his life to fighting hunger and feeding hope inspires those who meet him to believe that we will one day live in a world that is free of hunger and poverty. 

On Friday, David received the Order of Canada. His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presided over an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall.

Congratulations once again to David Northcott on a well-deserved honour.

David Northcott in Ottawa, with his wife Kathy, shortly after receiving his Order of Canada from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada

Football fans can come and get a look at all the wannabe Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday. Training Camp opens at Canad Inn Stadium this Sunday June 3^rd.

Fans attending the open practice are encouraged to bring a ‘Tin for the Bin’ as they come to see those who want to make the 2012 Bombers roster.

Start time is 9 AM on Sunday.

Good luck and ‘Let’s Go Blue’!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Winnipeg Harvest, its staff or volunteers.

May 22, 2012

Duncan Stokes

While we were blessed with a wonderfully mild winter and at times, an unseasonably warm spring, the Victoria Day long weekend is when you really begin to see the outdoor activity shift into a higher gear. Cottages are opened for the season, anglers start dropping in their lines in lakes & rivers and gardening stores are packed with customers.

 

Whether you’re planting flowers or vegetables, to invest the time and effort to nurture something that can provide you with so much pleasure is something that should be celebrated. Gardening can be an enriching experience.

Did you know Winnipeg Harvest has a program which combines gardening with philanthropy? Did you know it’s been around for more than 25 years?   

It started back in 1986.

Ron (shown below) and Eunice O’Donovan produced more potatoes in their backyard garden than their family could consume.  So instead of disposing of the potatoes, they donated them to the Food Bank.  The response to their generosity was so positive they decided to encourage others in their own neighbourhood to also donate their surplus vegetables to Winnipeg Harvest.  Thus, the Grow-a-Row Campaign was born and has been growing ever since; yielding nearly three million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Ron O'Donovan, co-founder of the Grow-a-Row program with his late wife Eunice.

T&T seeds have supported the program for the past 25 years with their donations of seed. 

So what are some of the things you can do help the ‘Grow-a-Row’ campaign?

At home and work: Grow an extra row (or two) of produce in your own backyard Invite your neighbours, family and associates to do the same and perhaps do a friendly “weigh-in” challenge Turn an empty neighbourhood lot into a Grow-A-Row garden At school: Turn Grow-A-Row into a science project and have students plant and tend to a row of vegetables for Winnipeg Harvest Come harvest season, bring students to Winnipeg Harvest to deliver their crop. They’ll get an on-site tour and a chance to sort food.

At the Community Club:

• Plant a Harvest Garden to be tended by club families
• Come Harvest season, organize a communal Harvest Day full of activities including a visit to Winnipeg Harvest

You can help by ‘harvesting an extra row or two of vegetables and donating them to Winnipeg Harvest, 1085 Winnipeg Avenue. For more information call Shelley at 982-3582 or visit our website at www.winnipegharvest.org  

All produce is welcome including; crab-apples, although root crops (beets and carrots ) are encouraged because they are best for storage.
            PLANT A SEED, NOURISH A COMMUNITY.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Winnipeg Harvest, its staff or volunteers.

May 7, 2012 - by Duncan M. Stokes

Duncan M.  Stokes

Hunger Awareness Week

Did you know that more than 55,000 Manitobans have relied on food banks over the past month? If all 55,000 of those people lived in the same city, it would be the second largest in Manitoba. That is more people than would fit into the new stadium being built in the south end of Winnipeg. And it’s more than 55,000 too many.  

Today marks the beginning of National Hunger Awareness Week. Hunger is something almost everyone can identify with at some point in their life. Fortunately for most of us, it’s usually a temporary thing lasting a few hours or a day or two at the most for those who have had to fast for medical reasons.

But can you imagine what it would be like to go to school hungry as a child? Or to go to about your adult life hungry for a day?

Sadly, for too many people in this country, it is something they live with each and every day.

If you want to know what it’s like to be hungry, challenge yourself this week…Know what it’s like to have food out of reach by challenging yourself to give up your lunches or a food staple for the week.

Winnipeg Harvest remains committed to reducing by half, the number of people reliant on food banks by the year 2020. We need your help to reach this goal. Understanding why it’s so important is a step toward that goal.

Please consider taking the challenge. And consider donating money, food or time to Winnipeg Harvest to help us reach the goal of a world without hunger.

Camino Food Fund

Thank you to Doug Speirs for a wonderful article in the Wednesday May 2^nd edition of the Winnipeg Free Press.

In case you missed the article, Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau and his partner Dennis Tam are embarking on a 760 km journey through the historic Camino de Santiago beginning August 9^th. (also known as the Way of St. James) He hopes to raise money to create a fund that will be used by Winnipeg Harvest to acquire healthy foods for diabetics. The Minister’s goal is to raise $25,000.

Speirs article on the Minister’s journey for the “Camino Food Fund” can be found at http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/760-km-to-better-health-149786855.html

Good luck Minister Rondeau. And thank you for this call to action.

Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau and partner Dennis Tam. Photo courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press and Wayne Glowacki

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Winnipeg Harvest, its staff or volunteers.

Attention Facebookers! You wanna help out Winnipeg Harvest with the simple click of a “Like”?

Kudos to Mercedes Benz! They have chosen to support Winnipeg Harvest. For each “Like” on their Facebook page, Mercedes-Benz of Winnipeg will donate $1 to Winnipeg Harvest.

Share this link with your friends on Facebook and help Winnipeg Harvest fight hunger and feed hope, by liking this page.

Mercedes-Benz of Winnipeg says it will donate up to $2,000 to Winnipeg Harvest.

Hall, push, pull, dump or otherwise get your pennies to us.

Through tremendous volunteer support, Winnipeg Harvest will be able to “parlez” your pennies into dollars; $1 will turn into $20 of food and go towards reducing hunger in the province of Manitoba.

There is no need to count your pennies. We’ll do it for you.

How many kilograms of copper can your neighbourhood group, school, or church collect?

Pennies will be accepted at any time at Winnipeg Harvest, 1085 Winnipeg Avenue; or call ahead if the load is too big and we will make arrangements to pick up the loot.

Thank you! Your donation will make a huge difference.

For more information on how to donate your pennies call us at 982-3581 or visit our website at www.winnipegharvest.org

Meet Dennis and Lisa. They are just two of the hundreds of volunteers who help out at Winnipeg Harvest each month. Check out our website at www.winnipegharvest.org to see who helps us, and how you can help us, by donating your time.

More Than Shoes steps into Winnipeg Harvest!

More Than Shoes has officially joined Winnipeg Harvest!  It is exciting to have a home for this worthwhile project to continue to grow and flourish so that more Manitoba children can access comfortable, well-fitted footwear.  Currently, we are looking for NEW running shoes!  Are you part of a team or business that would like to hold a More Than Shoes drive? If so, please call Wendy at 509-1344 or email at wendy@morethanshoes.ca.  Looking for more information?  Just visit our website-www.morethanshoes.ca to see how else you can help.  If you just feel like picking up a pair or two of NEW running shoes, please drop them at Winnipeg Harvest at anytime!  We most need size 13 (children's)- size 7 (adult).

April 17, 2012

AWARDS DINNER GOES TONIGHT

Congratulations to all those who will be receiving recognition at tonight’s 29th Annual Volunteer Awards at the Winnipeg Convention Centre!

Everyone who volunteers their time, whether it is for a charity, an organization they are passionate about or to help/ mentor youth with extra-curricular or academic activities should be celebrated. Your contributions help make your community stronger.  

Winnipeg Harvest nominated six of tonight’s successful recipients. Congratulations to…

·         Ron O'Donovan and Eunice O'Donovan (posthumously) of Winnipeg, winners of the Manitoba Lotteries Family Volunteer Award

·         City TV of Winnipeg, winner of the Golden Hand Award

·         David Courchene of Turtle Lake, winner of Volunteer Manitoba’s Outstanding Community Leadership Award

·         David Proctor of Winnipeg, winner of the Lieutenant Governor’s ‘Make a Difference Community Award’.

·         Ursula Taylor, of Swan River winner (individual) of the Premier’s Volunteer Service Award

·         Broadway Neighbourhood Centre of Winnipeg, winner (Community Group) of the Premier’s Volunteer Service Award.

·         Jamie Sotlar, volunteer Winnipeg harvest, Safeway Ability Award

·         Tech Voc High School (Linking Individuals to New Knowledge) Mayor’s Volunteer Service Award,  Effective Use of Youth

DONATIONS STILL NEEDED

And Winnipeg Harvest is still in need of donations.

We are still in urgent need of high protein non-perishable nutritional food items. We remain down from our normal levels at this time of year. The shelves that store our Top 10 food items need filling (see below).

Each week, we distribute food to 5500 households. Please add food for a hungry family to your family’s grocery list.

NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS NEEDED

·         Canned Fish and Poultry (tuna or salmon -packed in water) chicken or turkey

·         Canned Fruit & Vegetables (packed in own juice)

·         Canned Stew, Chili, Brown Beans

·         Peanut Butter

·         Whole Grain Pasta/Whole Wheat Pasta

·         Rice (brown, converted or parboiled)

·         Canned Spaghetti Sauce or Tomatoes

·         Cereal (high fiber, non-sugar coated)

·         Canned Soup (lentil, pea, vegetable)

Drop off locations: Winnipeg Harvest and your retail food store. Canada Safeway and Peak of the Market will match the donations in weight, pound for pound.

Monetary donations are also accepted. For every $1 we receive, we can distribute $20 worth of groceries. Call 982-3581 today to make a monetary donation!

March 20, 2012

Operation Donation

The official weight of the food collected through Operation Donation 2012 is 75,743 kg (166,635 lbs) 75 schools throughout Manitoba collected food for the 13^th annual Operation Donation.

In addition to all the students, who are the life force behind this every growing drive, a special thanks to Canada Safeway, Peak of the Market, the Manitoba Teachers Society and of course, Manitoba Public Insurance for the continued support each has shown for this initiative.

Check our website http://winnipegharvest.org/ to read all the details of Operation Donation 2012, and check out all the images on http://www.facebook.com/wpgharvest

Sons of Italy
Grazie!

Thank you Sons of Italy for choosing Hunger for Hope as your charity of choice for this year’s sold-out, 26^th annual Gala on March 17^th.

The Sons of Italy raised more than $100,000 Hunger for Hope.

Hunger for Hope helps buy formula for the 1,600 infants who need emergency baby formula each month, as well as baby food. Winnipeg Harvest spends more than $100,000 each year for baby food and formula.

Click here to see more images from this wonderful event.

March 8, 2012

Community Breakfast draws em’ in

Over 1,000 people turned out to last to École Robert Smith School’s Fifth Annual Community Breakfast.  

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz, Winnipeg Police Service Chief Keith McCaskill and members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers served pancakes, all in support of Winnipeg Harvest. City TV Winnipeg and 92 CITI FM were live on location helping bring together staff, students, families and the community for the fundraiser.

Winnipeg Police Service Mascot Copper gets a ‘high five’
from a Grade 7 student at Ecole Robert H. Smith on March 2^nd.

All told, $13,075.14 was raised in addition to 1,053 lbs (478.6 kg) of food donations was collected by those who came to enjoy pancakes, the company and the atmosphere.

Time to think of the links!

The snow may be still be falling, but make sure to get your name into this year’s Winnipeg Harvest Charity Golf Tournament. This year’s tournament will be taking place on
Tuesday, July 10^th, 2012 at the NEW Southwood Golf & Country Club (pictured below).

 Presented by…

There are some great opportunities to help out Winnipeg Harvest though sponsorship with great exposure for your business brand.

If you want more information, please contact.


Colleen McVarish, Development Manager
(204) 982-3666
colleen.mcvarish@winnipegharvest.org

Have you been putting off that New Year’s resolution to get in shape?

Well Curves has a great opportunity for you. Bring a bag of groceries and join FREE!

This is the 10^th year Curves has supported Winnipeg Harvest. We are fortunate to have so much support from individuals and businesses throughout the Winnipeg area and from across Manitoba.

So get into shape and helps us trim down the number of people using Food Banks each month.  Hunger never takes a holiday and with your help, we will reduce by half, the number of people needing to use food banks.