Nothing goes to waste

There is a movement taking place in many larger centres asking grocery stores to donate 'day-old' items to local missions and food banks, but in Vernon that has been happening for more than a decade.

Some communities are even passing bylaws stating older items like produce and bread be donated rather than tossed into a landfill, but one long-time Upper Room Mission volunteer said local stores have been doing that for as long as she has been with the mission, and she started in 2006.

Lisa Anderson, URM co-executive director, said stores drop off items daily and that generosity is a huge boon for the group that help feed some of the most marginalized people in the city.

“It doesn't go into their dumpsters, it comes here instead. It's perfectly good food,” said Anderson. “We are able to put it on our giveaway table.”

But it is not just homeless who benefit.

“We have lots of seniors who access our services. They like to make soups and different things like that,” said Anderson. “We see lots of seniors access it as well as young families. They come in and take produce as well as our bread items.”

Anderson said any items that are not given away do not go to waste.

“Nothing from us goes into the landfill,” she said. “We have local farmers that come and pick it up. They give it to their chickens and their pigs, so nothing goes to waste.”