Big save: New charity secures warehouse to re-distribute discarded food and products

A charity that redistributes food and other items has moved into a larger warehouse to better suit their needs. CTV’s Sean Irvine with the story.

A new London charity has secured a warehouse - free of charge - just in time for the holiday season.

The space will help Lionhearts Inc. distribute food and products destined for landfills to those in need.

On Wednesday, members of the Rotary Club of London South and the Halal Food Bank worked together to pack items destined for 40 agencies on the frontline of homelessness, addiction, and food insecurity.

Lionhearts began soon after its founder, a former rock musician, discovered that plenty of food was being tossed out by major retailers.

Instantly, Travis Blackmore decided to approach the largest players with a concept.

“I just said imagine what we could do if we could create a path where bigger companies could donate large amounts of stuff and we could turn around and get that to those agencies that are on the front lines,” he explained.

The concept was a success. Since 2014, the faith-based charity has spread from Kingston to Ottawa, and now to London.

The Forest City was chosen for expansion for its proximity to an Amazon distribution warehouse. The online retailer donates truckloads to Lionhearts, but Blackmore says local hotels and attractions are also coming on board.

“We really want this to be our staging point for all of southwestern Ontario. London is strategically placed in our province.”

It’s a point echoed by Rick Boyes, a London pastor and local Lionhearts Inc. organizer, who said his Gateway Church program is looking to expand.

“We’re already into a couple of areas, three or four areas around our city. But I think it’s going to expand not just to the City of London. We’re already starting this in Lucan, and as well I think it’s going to expand into Strathroy and St. Thomas. I think wherever there’s a need, we want to be on the front line to help them see that need met,” he said.

And with food literally wasting away, Lionhearts’ backers say expansion cannot happen soon enough.

They contend 40 per cent of food produced in Canada ends up in the trash.

“If we could rescue 10 per cent of that 40 per cent that would go in the trash, nobody would go hungry,” said Blackmore.

It is the reason why the volunteers, like Joan Fisher, are hard at work packing up everything donated.

“It’s a win-win situation, and it’s just a really good feeling to be helping others,” she said.