Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation partners with Moisson Montréal

Moisson Montréal has announced that the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation has become a major partner of its Food Recovery Program in Supermarkets by donating $1.5 million, which will finance the program through to 2018.

“Over the last few years, the Food Recovery Program in Supermarkets has collected close to 800 tons of foodstuffs — including 323 tons of meat — in 76 grocery stores but Moisson Montréal realized that it would be impossible to expand the program into more supermarkets without the support of a major financial donor,” says Julie Bourbonnière, director of Communications and Fundraising for Moisson Montréal. “Even if the operational costs for this program may seem high—totalling over a half million dollars annually—the impact on people in need is far greater.”

This donation from the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation is expected to cover costs associated with training personnel, purchasing and maintaining refrigerated vehicles, buying freezers, building a test laboratory, hiring new drivers and more.

“The Food Recovery Program in Supermarkets, operated by Moisson Montréal, is an initiative that has had a considerable impact on the community and on the environment,” says Marie-Josée Coutu, president of the Foundation. “As a result, the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation is proud to contribute to its growth. We know that our donation will enable the organization to pursue its double mission to, one, provide community organizations in Montrealwith maximum food assistance, in the form of quality foodstuffs and, two, reduce food waste by developing more sustainable solutions.”