At Southwestern Ontario Gleaners in Leamington, a simple idea is making a remarkable difference: rescue good food that would otherwise go to waste and transform it into nutritious meals for people in need.
With support from dedicated volunteers, local farmers, food processors, and community partners, the organization takes non-marketable vegetables that don't meet grocery store standards and gives them a second purpose. The result is a dehydrated soup mix that provides nourishment to families both across Canada and around the world.
Southwestern Ontario Gleaners was recently awarded a Kindred Charitable Fund grant to help replace a critical cooler used in its operations. The cooler helps ensure rescued produce remains fresh and safe while volunteers inspect, prepare, and process it.
"We preserve the food by drying it, which gives it a 2-year shelf life," explains Joel Epp, General Manager of Southwestern Ontario Gleaners. The dehydration process not only extends the product's shelf life but also significantly reduces its weight, making it easier and more economical to transport to communities facing food insecurity.
Each day, more than 27 volunteers gather at the Leamington facility to sort, inspect, prepare, and package vegetables that have been donated by farmers and food processors. These are vegetables that may be misshapen, oversized, undersized, or otherwise unsuitable for retail sale, despite being perfectly nutritious and safe to eat.
The impact is substantial. Southwestern Ontario Gleaners process approximately one million pounds of fresh produce each year, creating more than five million vegetable servings annually.
The soup mix itself is carefully formulated to provide both nutrition and substance. Along with dehydrated vegetables, the organization adds split peas as a source of protein and nutrients. Approximately 2.5 cups of split peas are added to every three-pound bag of soup mix, helping create a balanced meal for those who receive it.
While the production numbers are impressive, Joel says the heart of the organization is its volunteers. "Our volunteers have become a bit of a family, and they get a great deal out of their time together," he says.
That sense of community extends well beyond the walls of the Leamington facility. Once packaged, the soup mix is distributed through trusted partner organizations that help ensure it reaches those who need it most. Internationally, Southwestern Ontario Gleaners work with organizations such as Loads of Love for Ukraine, supporting communities affected by conflict and displacement. Other partners, including Canadian Food for Children, help distribute the soup mix to communities in Central America and Africa.
Closer to home, the organization also provides food to Canadians experiencing food insecurity, demonstrating that hunger relief is both a global and local concern.
At every stage of the process, Southwestern Ontario Gleaners is reducing food waste while creating meaningful social impact. Produce that might otherwise be discarded is transformed into nutritious meals, volunteers build connections and community, and families receive practical support during challenging times.
The replacement cooler funded through the Kindred Charitable Fund will help the organization continue this important work, preserving fresh produce before it’s processed and ensuring operations can continue efficiently.
Southwestern Ontario Gleaners demonstrates how collaboration, stewardship, and community can come together to create lasting impact. By rescuing surplus food and transforming it into nourishment, they are helping build healthier, more hopeful communities, one serving at a time.