Tony Palmer and Mary Palmer from Pouch Cove, a small town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, started rescuing food for their community in 2022 and have been feeding many people in their community.

The couple makes multiple trips around their town in Pouch Cove, on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, each day to retrieve extra food from restaurants and retailers before it reaches landfills. They have created a small space known as the Pouch Cove community pantry, which feeds about 200 families each week. The pantry often has fresh items like strawberries, mushrooms, vegetables, and even pet food, most of which are still in great condition but cannot be sold because of small issues like damaged packaging, missing lids, or a product at the end of a promotional sale.

The couple’s work has created an important support system for the community. Tony and Mary Palmer started this initiative four years ago as a way of giving back to community garden volunteers in Pouch Cove and have continued ever since.

Mary Palmer says that seeing people come to the pantry feels as joyful as Christmas Day, and seeing people leave with a smile is the best reward. Over the past four years, the couple has rescued about $412,000 worth of food and helped provide more than 97,000 meals. They are part of a growing network of over 100 food rescuers in Newfoundland and Labrador working with Second Harvest, a group focused on reducing waste and feeding people in need.

The couple has also found support from dedicated volunteers, as their pantry has developed a social element over the years.

Source: Julia Israel, CBC