A simple offering that moves food from surplus to supper, right here at home.
Right now, in a community not far from your church, someone is choosing between groceries and medication. A parent is skipping dinner so their child can eat. A senior is stretching a week’s worth of food into ten days.
Nearly 1 in 4 households in Algoma faces food insecurity, higher than the provincial average. The pressure is real, and it is growing.
547,000 lbs of food were rescued by Harvest Algoma in 2025 alone. This is bread, produce, and staples that would otherwise go to landfill.
This food already exists in our community – the challenge isn’t finding it, it’s moving it. That’s where your church comes in!
What the People on the Front Lines Are Saying
“Harvest Algoma is truly revolutionary in its ability to take unused food and turn it into something delicious and nourishing. Their work not only helps reduce food waste but also ensures that our community continues to thrive and that those in need are cared for. Every time I visit, I’m greeted with a friendly smile and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s genuinely a highlight of my day to stop by, prepare food boxes for my clients, and know that I’m contributing to something bigger, helping both people and the planet.”
Stephanie Miceli — Housing Case Manager, CMHA Algoma
That case manager visits Harvest Algoma on behalf of people with significant barriers to housing and stability. For her clients, a food box isn’t just a meal, it’s one less crisis to manage.
Introducing Daily Bread for Algoma
This Lent, we’re inviting churches across Algoma to participate in something beautifully simple: a designated offering, collected through your existing methods, sent after Easter as a single cheque or e-transfer, that goes directly toward keeping food moving.
🌾Every $1 donated helps move 2 pounds of food through the system, into food banks, shelter meals, and school snack programs across the region.
No new governance structure, no special events, and no volunteer requirements. Just a purposeful offering that strengthens the infrastructure behind every food cupboard and meal program your church already supports.
How It Works
- Your church council approves a designated Lenten or Easter offering for Harvest Algoma.
- Funds are collected using your existing methods throughout the season.
- After Easter, your church sends one cheque or e-transfer to Harvest Algoma.
- Harvest Algoma provides a shared impact summary — so you can tell your congregation exactly how many pounds of food their giving helped move.
A church of 30 can participate just as meaningfully as a church of 300. This is not a pledge campaign or a new program. It is Lent doing what Lent has always done, inviting us into simplicity, generosity, and shared sacrifice on behalf of our neighbours.
Imagine standing before your congregation at Easter and saying: “Together, we helped move thousands of pounds of food into local families’ homes this season.” That is a positive impact which is measurable, real, and lasting.
Talk to Your Council or Pastor This Week
If this stirs something in you, the most important thing you can do is simple: bring it up with your pastor or church leadership. Ask whether Daily Bread for Algoma could be your congregation’s Lenten offering this year.
The food is already out there. The need is already here. All that’s missing is the movement, and that starts with a conversation.
Ready to Bring This to Your Church?
Reach out to Harvest Algoma to learn more or to confirm your church’s participation. Click here to learn more about our food security and food rescue programming.
David Thompson, Executive Director
dthompson@harvestalgoma.ca