Winnipeg Harvest

On January 25th, 2011, 6 students from room 8-16 went to Winnipeg harvest for a couple hours during the afternoon. There, we met Leslie who taught us about Winnipeg Harvest and guided us around the buildings. Leslie taught us a lot about what Winnipeg Harvest does. She told us about the people they help as well as the types of food they hand out. Did you know that Winnipeg Harvest helps around 50000 people per month, half of which are children? How about how almost all the people who run Winnipeg Harvest are volunteers? Winnipeg Harvest is a food bank that distributes food that takes a LONG time to expire to people in need. Many of the items they receive are donated to them from people who want to help. Many stores also deliver dented cans and other products they are unable to sell to Winnipeg Harvest and there is even a bakery that gives freshly baked buns to them every morning! No wonder Manitoba was ranked the most generous province 12 times in a row! Although Winnipeg Harvest welcomes almost any type of food, they have a list of the top 10 foods that are most wanted. The types of food that they need the most are:

1. Canned fish and poultry
2. Canned fruits and vegetables (packed in own juice)
3. Canned stew, chili, brown beans
4. Peanut butter
5. Baby food
6. Whole grain/wheat pasta
7. Rice
8. Canned spaghetti sauce or tomatoes
9. Cereal
10. Canned soup

At Winnipeg Harvest, we packed rice into small bags. There were bins filled with rice, each with a different type. Two people were at each bin. One person at the bin was in charge of holding and tying the bags while the other scooped rice into the bags. The bags were then carried and put into boxes where they are later given to those who need it. I was one of the people in charge of holding and tying the bags. In the end, we bagged enough rice to help hundreds of families in Winnipeg.