Every year Endless Harvest, the Kootenay’s organic food home delivery service, collects monetary donations from their customers, and matches what the customers donate.
“Our customers love the program, because it’s easy to do and their money goes directly to bringing fresh, organic food to people in need in their communities,” says Velvet Kavanagh, owner of Endless Harvest.
“We donate the food to where the customer’s money comes from, so our food donations go to hamper programs and festive meals in Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Rossland, Slocan, and the Beaver Valley. Our customers really appreciate this program, as it makes it easy for them to contribute to the lives of others in their immediate community,” explained Kavanagh.
Marya Skrypiczajko, Holiday Hamper coordinator from the Nelson Food Cupboard highlights the benefits to their program.
“Last year when we surveyed hamper recipients, they let us know that produce is the most appreciated part of the hampers and the food group they would like more of, so we were thrilled to learn Endless Harvest is eager to enable us to add more fruits and vegetables to the hampers this year.”
Holiday Hampers for the Nelson Food Cupboard were packed and distributed last week and, as always, a big team of volunteers were there to led a hand.
Endless Harvest has run the donation program every year since Kavanagh started the business 15 years ago. She said “It seemed like the right thing to do. We have the advantage of accessing produce at wholesale prices so the impact of our pooled customers’ donations and our matching donation are magnified.”
They also coordinate with farmers and suppliers who extend a discount on their regular prices to support the program.
“It’s amazing to look back and see how well its done. Now we even have people donating who aren’t regular customers who like the ease of donating through us,” noted Kavanagh. “Some customers prefer to donate one of our produce boxes. We find a person or family with the help of local agencies and give that box directly to them.”
This year Endless Harvest added a bonus to their Holiday Gift Certificates too – for every gift certificate or gift bag ordered a donation is made to the Holiday Donation Program in the recipient’s name.
There is still time to donate.
They send out the bulk of their donations the week of December 16 to 20, however there are always late contributions that come in, so more donations go out in early January.