Westland Insurance has recently pledged $25,000 to Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization.
The move is part of the Purpose Partnership initiative with Gore Mutual, which is a collaborative effort by ten insurance brokers to enhance social impact initiatives in the Canadian insurance industry.
Over $49 billion worth of edible surplus food is wasted annually in Canada, while food insecurity is on the rise. As a food rescue organization, Second Harvest aims to redistribute this surplus food to those in need, providing nourishment to vulnerable communities and reducing food waste in the country.
The donation was presented to Shelley Lycan, Second Harvest’s head of BC operations, by Westland representatives during a formal cheque presentation that took place last week.
Commenting on Westland’s partnership with Second Harvest, Westland chief people officer Keri Fraser remarked on the rise of food insecurity in Canada and how it “disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable in our society.”
“Access to affordable, nutritious food is a human right,” she said. “That’s why we’re so thrilled to join forces with Second Harvest as they aim to make a difference for people across Canada.”
Fraser also made note of how eliminating food waste can have a “positive impact on the environment, the effects of which can be felt by all Canadians.”
“Giving back to the communities we serve is part of who we are at Westland, and this partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of Canadians,” she said further.
Second Harvest CEO Lori Nikkel stated that the support of partners like Westland enables the organization to rescue and redistribute enough nutritious food to support 4.3 million people each year.
“Food insecurity and climate change are urgent pressures in Canada that we can't address alone,
Nikkel added. “This $25,000 from Westland Insurance will have an immediate impact locally in British Columbia and across the country.”
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