Photo: Facebook / Second Harvest

By Shane Clausing

Second Harvest

Second Harvest providing local community groups up to $20,000 in grants to help purchase food

Apr 14, 2020 | 12:03 PM

The company Second Harvest and their website FoodRescue.ca announced last week that they’re providing $4.5 million to community groups across the country that is aimed at feeding vulnerable Canadians.

This program includes the Grande Prairie area, and can benefit groups such as churches, charities and non-profit organizations, who are trying to help those in need get food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Second Harvest was given money from the Government of Canada as part of the government’s $100 million contribution to various food organizations. The company will help allocate the government funds received to programs across the country.

“Second Harvest really works with everybody else that doesn’t have that membership (that food banks have),” said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest. “If you’re running a shelter, soup kitchen or anything that is supporting people with food you’re eligible, as long as you’re a non-profit or charity.”

If a non-profit or charity is approved, they could receive up to $20,000 in grants from Second Harvest. They’ll also have access to FoodRescue.ca where they can purchase discounted gift cards to grocery stores in the area.

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Food Banks are not eligible for the program as they’re already being subsidized by the government.

Nikkel adds that Second Harvest didn’t expect to be a nation-wide company by this April.

The company normally operates in only Ontario and B.C., but had plans to slowly roll out across Canada over the next two years. However because of COVID-19, plans were fast-tracked to expand so that they can help communities get the urgent help that they need.

Nikkel says this program can benefit many families in the community.

“Twenty-thousand dollars could help a lot of families that are really struggling right now with layoffs. Just having people know that food is available will also give them some people some peace in mind.”

The company says that there has been a steady amount of applications submitted, and they want to give out the money they’ve been provided