Grocery stores from Penticton to Kelowna are helping those facing food insecurity, including school children, by donating meals to local charities.
The initiative is through FoodMesh with Georgia Main Food Group’s IGA and Fresh St. Market stores, which partners with 220 charities across B.C.
Gary Sorenson, president and Chief Operating Officer of Georgia Main Food Group said the charities distribute the food to people in British Columbia and since 2020, about 3.5 million meals have been donated.
“I’m beyond proud of our store management teams for their diligence going department by department to ensure surplus healthy foods like fruit and vegetables are not being thrown out and wasted and that we can quickly and efficiently get these foods directly to people who need it,” said Sorenson.
Jessica Regan, CEO and co-founder of FoodMesh pointed out that more than half of the food produced in Canada goes to waste.
“These staggering statistics highlight the deep flaws in Canada’s food system. However, in this landscape, Georgia Main has never wavered from its commitment to reducing food waste across its stores,” she said. “In keeping its unsold food out of waste streams, Georgia Main has also averted over five million KG of C02e emissions from entering the atmosphere.”
A variety of local charities including food banks in Metro Vancouver, the Okanagan, the Sunshine Coast, and other regions of B.C. pick up and distribute the stores’ food donations.
The following IGA stores in the Okanagan partner with area food banks:
•IGA Penticton – Penticton Soupateria
•IGA Summerland – Summerland Foodbank and Penticton Soupateria
•IGA Peachland – Peachland Food Bank
•Two IGA Kelowna locations – Central Okanagan Food Bank
•IGA Lake Country – Lake Country Food Bank
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