SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Donations to Food Rescue doubled last year to more than 100,000 kg, thanks in no small part to the inclusion of Extra Foods on its pick-up roster, says the group's head organizer.

Ruby Trudel spoons out some apple sauce made from day-old and bruised apples at the Food Rescue kitchen on April 4. Food Rescue takes day-old or expired food and gives it to charities and organizations that need it. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

Food Rescue, now in its third year, aims to reduce the waste of usable food in Yellowknife, and last year saved 109,000 kg of edible food - an increase of 50,000 kg over 2009's haul. Of the 109,000 kg of leftovers, over-orders and food dated past its expiry date, 107,000 kg was deemed edible and donated to charities around Yellowknife.

Since its inception in March 2008, the community has pulled together to make Food Rescue a success.

"Yellowknife is like that. It's a very supportive community," said Ruby Trudel, the brain behind the initiative and one of its directors. "But it makes a lot of sense and people identify with the real benefit to the community."

Six days a week, volunteer drivers pick up food from both Extra Foods, the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op and Pizza Hut, where they take the leftovers from the lunch buffet. They then bring the food back to the Food Rescue kitchen and make sure it's edible.

The project is both a social service and an environmental initiative.

"We're a service organization in that we give a product and they want to use it. Our service is a gift," Trudel said. "Anything not edible goes into the compost bin for the City of Yellowknife's (composting) pilot project. We recycle cardboard and plastic. The only thing (going) into the dump is the plastic wrap."

If Trudel and her team of 24 volunteers didn't rescue the food waste, all that food would go into the city's dump. Food Rescue also receives over-orders, such as 72,000 green garbage bags from Diavik.

Other sources of donations include Shoppers Drug Mart, Northbest Foods, Northern Food Services and Lulu's Market.

Donations go to about 20 local organizations including the Centre for Northern Families, the Salvation Army, John Howard Society Drop-In Centre, SideDoor, YWCA, Weledeh Catholic School, Mildred Hall School, YK Food Bank, Aurora Student Food Bank and Stanton Territorial Hospital Auxiliary. Even the SPCA receives packages of dog and cat food.

Food Rescue can only stay in its current location until the end of August and the board is studying its options. The main goal is to move to a permanent downtown location, instead of the all-weather camp tent they currently operate from on Old Airport Road. The tent houses Food Rescue's kitchen, office and storage and meets their needs with electricity, running water, two coolers and heat, but a better location would likely attract more clients, said Trudel.

She would also like to set up a partnership with the food bank and eventually start a fresh food bank for people to receive fruits and vegetables.

Originally the plan was to be an "in-and-out" operation, with food coming in and leaving the same day. Now food is stacking up and needs to reach more people, which is where the downtown location would help.

"We need more clientele," Trudel said. "If we were in operation with the food bank, we could be open in the afternoon for homeless, single moms, disabled people. Each group could come in different days."

In the meantime, Food Rescue needs more volunteers, specifically kitchen help, she said.