Our mission does not consist solely of collecting and distributing foodstuffs. In fact, we also carry out different types of food support projects. Various large-scale innovative projects are being developed to ensure better accessibility, quality and variety of food for the less fortunate population of Montreal.
Food Recovery Program in Supermarkets
In collaboration with the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation
The Food Recovery Program in Supermarkets (FRPS) was created in October 2013. It is the first of its kind in Canada and offers a unique and sustainable solution to the problem of food insecurity and waste. Moisson Montréal has reached a province-wide agreement with the Metro, Super C, Provigo and Maxi grocery stores to recover of unsold foodstuffs, which will then be distributed to community organizations. Moisson Montréal will recover unsold foodstuffs that are still safe for consumption from supermarket partners.
There are five categories of foodstuffs recovered:
- Meat and meat substitutes
- Baked goods
- Varied products
- Frozen products
- Fruits and vegetables
Why create this program?
Moisson Montréal is constantly seeking innovative and sustainable solutions to the problem of food insecurity and waste. We thus seized on this opportunity to offer our accredited organizations better services and to reduce food waste, including the pollution related to waste management. In addition, FRPS also generates cost savings for our organizations and supermarkets. Meat represented less than 1% of the foodstuffs that we distributed; yet, it is the item most sought by our organizations. Meat is a very costly food item and thus, less available to individuals with lower incomes.
Our major partner: Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation
The Foundation has become a major partner of the Food Recovery Program in Supermarkets in 2016 by donating $1.5 million, which will finance the program through to 2018. With this donation, the Foundation, which has contributed more than $3 million to our organization since 1991, will cover costs associated with training personnel, purchasing and maintaining refrigerated vehicles, buying freezers, building a test laboratory, hiring new drivers and more.
To access the most recent data on our Food Recovery Program in Supermarkets, click here.
Feeding Our Future
In spite of studies on delays in growth, of the increased risks of illness and of underachievement at school caused by hunger, there are still over 2 million children in Canada suffering from undernourishment. An estimated 5.5 million Canadians are at risk of famine and 40% of children rely on food banks in Canada.
To help alleviate this problem, Sodexo established the Feeding Our Future program. Funded by the Sodexo Foundation, Feeding Our Future donates the necessary food and labour to provide summer lunches to children who are given subsidised meals during the school year. Moisson Montréal is proud to participate in this program since 2001. We provide and deliver close to 39,000 lunches to 916 young children from 12 day camps supported by our accredited community organizations. Moisson Montréal wishes to thank d’Olymel, the program main sponsor.
Pool resources of community organizations for group purchases
RAOC member organizations served by Moisson Montréal benefit from a co-op structure for the purchase of foodstuffs to add to their supply. United as one, these organizations will see their purchasing power increase and will achieve significant savings.
Fight Hunger Day
On October 8th 2015, we received hundreds of our partners at Centre St-Pierre à Montréal. Addressing the partner organizations of Moisson Montréal, this day was created to encourage meetings and discussions between organizations having food security of citizens at heart.
This day of reflexion allowed participants to attend conferences, panels and workshops on various topics and issues relatind to food aid and food security in an urban context.
