Loving Spoonful
OPIRG initiated a project in cooperation with the National Farmers Union, Partners in Mission Foodbank and the Peace and Justice office of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent De Paul to recover surplus perishable food from grocers and restaurants to be used in meal provider programs and other community agencies. The project combined food reclamation with supporting locally and sustainably produced food. This project, called Loving Spoonful, began in January and ran for 43 weeks. It was coordinated by Susan Belyea and was made possible through funding from the Healthy Community Fund and the Canadian Unified Students Environmental Network (CUSEN) along with resources and support from all the partner organizations.
The project has now moved into a new phase and become a joint project of OPIRG. Check out their website at: http://lovingspoonful.orgclick here.
Loving Spoonful is a food justice organization in Kingston, ON. We work to combat hunger and food waste by reclaiming surplus food from sources such as grocery stores, caterers, restaurants, hotels and farmers, – food that would otherwise go to waste. With the help of volunteers we transport this food to local emergency meal providers, such as homeless shelters and hot meal programs.
We also work with other food justice initiatives such as community gardens, grow-a-row campaigns, and farmers markets.
Food reclamation makes sense; the benefits of such a program are both social and environmental. The surplus food we collect is transported to those who need it most. This food, would otherwise be put into a landfill. As organic matter decomposes, it becomes methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Not only are we saving much needed food from going to waste to improve public health, but we are keeping waste from becoming a hazard to our environmental health.
Originally the Cooperative Food Distribution Initiative, Loving Spoonful was chosen as a catchier moniker for the project. This name has a special resonance in Kingston. The late Zal Yanovsky, singer and lead guitarist of rock band “The Loving Spoonful” was a food activist and restaurant entrepreneur in Kingston. Loving Spoonful has the full support of the current owner and the management of Chez Piggy and Pan Chancho, who feel that Zal would have wholeheartedly supported such a project.
We work in partnership with many local organizations, including OPIRG, The Partners in Mission Foodbank, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul’s Justice and Peace Office and the National Farmer’s Union Local 316. Their continued support ensures the success of our program.
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For more information:
Susan Belyea
Coordinator, Loving Spoonful
Cooperative Food Distribution Initiative
susan@lovingspoonful.org
(613) 583-2055