Second Harvest Annual Fundraising Campaign Returns with New Heroes

Campaign kick-off raises funds and awareness surrounding hunger and food waste

TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Second Harvest, Canada's largest food rescue organization, will take to the streets of Toronto this month with hundreds of green-clad heroes to support its annual Hero fundraising campaign. The campaign kicks-off with two Hero Days, February 15 and 22, and aims to raise $300,000 while bringing awareness to the issue of hunger and food waste in the city.

Dedicated volunteers will collect cash donations from generous commuters in TTC stations and PATH locations across the city and with each $5 donation, 10 nutritious meals are provided to those in need.

This year, two important Toronto landmarks will be illuminated in green, the TORONTO sign at City Hall (Feb 15) and the CN tower (Feb 22). Additionally, two remarkable heroes will help lead the way: 15-year-old chef-in-training, Liam Lewis, and City Councilor, Norm Kelly.

A longstanding supporter of Second Harvest, Councilor Kelly will be joined by budding chef, Liam, who at 10 years old created his own food blog, The Little Locavore. Since then, he has trained and cooked with top culinary talent across the country. To raise awareness of food waste, Liam will create a recipe showcasing a delicious way to use items typically rescued by Second Harvest, food that would otherwise go to waste.

The dynamic duo is joined by Ink & Water Tattoo, a local Toronto business that has designed a "charity tattoo" by combining their logo with that of Second Harvest. Customers can receive this tattoo free of charge and Ink & Water will donate the equivalent of four meals per tattoo.

Additionally, Ink & Water Tattoo will host a food pop-up on February 10 at Churchill Bar, with proceeds donated to Second Harvest.

"Over 100 companies, schools and community groups join the ranks of our heroic supporters who help us support over 250 social service agencies across the GTA," said Debra Lawson, Executive Director, Second Harvest. "Reaching this year's campaign goal would mean providing 600,000 healthy meals to hungry children, adults and seniors who need our help."

About Second Harvest

Established in 1985, Second Harvest is the largest food rescue organization in Canada. Second Harvest rescues fresh, surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, and delivers that food to more than 250 social service agencies in Toronto, feeding people experiencing hunger and food insecurity. Since 1985 Second Harvest has rescued and delivered over 116 million pounds of food, thus preventing over 50 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. Second Harvest's vision: No Waste. No Hunger.

SOURCE Second Harvest