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COVID-19

Our response to COVID-19


At Second Harvest, the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, guests, and community partners is our top priority. 

Keeping everyone safe


Here are some of the adjustments we’ve made to our programs and services, as recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).  


As an essential service, Second Harvest has continued to provide food deliveries and pick-ups. We are continuing to closely monitor the situation and will provide timely updates if/when we make any changes to our services.  


Food Delivery & Pick-up Service Protocols

For the health, safety and protection of our frontline staff and community partners, here are our safety protocols for deliveries and pick-ups:


  • Deliveries to agencies: Second Harvest driver ambassadors will place food donations on the edge of the truck and maintain a 2-metre distance from the edge of the truck. Agency staff/volunteers are asked to unload their food donations from the truck, rather than our drivers passing them to you by hand. Please ensure you are prepared to receive food donations and have the appropriate personnel, equipment, etc. ready.  
  • Food pick-ups from Second Harvest’s warehouse: If your organization picks up from the Second Harvest warehouse, staff will place selected food donations on the edge of our dock, maintaining a 2-metre distance from the edge. Agency staff/volunteers are asked to load their food donations from the dock’s edge, rather than our warehouse staff passing it to you by hand. Please ensure you are prepared to receive food donations and have the appropriate personnel, equipment, etc. ready. 


Here are the safety protocols for Second Harvest trucks and driver ambassadors:

  • No one, except for the Second Harvest driver ambassador, is permitted to go on a Second Harvest truck.  
  • All trucks are equipped with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and tissues, which our driver ambassadors are instructed to use after and before each delivery and pick-up.  
  • Driver ambassadors will wear protective masks during deliveries and pick-ups.  
  • If your organization has been impacted by a case(s) of COVID-19, it is mandatory that you report this information to Second Harvest immediately.

We recognize that this situation is evolving and dynamic and the above directives may change over time. We will endeavor to keep you updated as this situation progresses. To learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic, including symptoms, prevention, and other issues, please click to visit Public Health Agency of Canada or the World Health Organization. 

If you have any questions, please contact Krish Thayalan, Operations Programs Coordinator, at krisht@secondharvest.ca or call 416-432-9654.


Visitors
Second Harvest currently requires all visitors (with limited exception) to our office to provide, upon entry, proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is in addition to existing health and safety protocols that remain in effect:

  • Health screening before or upon entry 
  • Recording contact information for contact tracing if needed 
  • Maintaining social distancing while on site 
  • Wearing a mask while on site

Visitors may include media, donors, partners, or other visitors coming on site to work, participating in an event, or any other reason wherein they enter and remain on site for a period of time. To enter Second Harvest premises, the visitor must show proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated. Second Harvest will review and confirm the proof upon entry and will not retain any copy of the documentation shown. Should an individual choose not to share the required information then they will not be permitted to enter the premises (with limited exception).   


Exceptions

Those who do not need to show proof of vaccination upon arriving include: 

  • Staff and volunteers who have already shown compliance with the vaccination policy ahead of time 
  • Contractors who regularly have staff working on the premises (e.g., cleaners), as Second Harvest confirms they have a vaccination policy in place that aligns with the organization
  • Letter carriers, couriers, and other workers who enter indoor area very briefly, e.g., solely for the purposes of picking up or dropping something off at reception 
  • Children under 12 years of age 
  • Visitors who require accommodation for a medical reason and present identification and a written document stating the individual is exempt for a medical reason

If you have any questions, please contact our Compliance Officer, Agnes Palaganas, at agnesp@secondharvest.ca or call 416.408.2594. 


Employees 

The health and safety of our employees and overall workplace are of paramount importance. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and as part of our continued efforts to maintain a safe workplace for our employees and partners, Second Harvest requires that all employees be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada.   This policy has been developed in accordance with the organization’s provincial health and safety obligations and is also based on the guidance and recommendations issued by the Public Health of Canada and other public health authorities. The purpose is to promote the health and wellness of the organization’s employees and volunteers (and that of all those who work with or interact with them) and to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in our workplace.  


Currently our recruitment processes are virtual when possible. Any new offer of employment is conditional on providing proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 from the provincial Ministry of Health. Second Harvest will comply with its obligations pursuant to the applicable human rights legislation and accommodate if you are unable to be vaccinated for substantiated reasons (e.g. medical exception).


If you have any questions, please contact our Human Resources Manager, Alex Kwiecien, at alexk@secondharvest.ca or call 416.408.2594.   


Volunteers 

Second Harvest has taken measures to ensure the health and safety of our employees, volunteers, guests and community partners. Due to COVID-19 and public health guidance, we have had a limited number of in-person volunteer opportunities. We are accepting new volunteer applications so we can keep you informed as we gradually re-integrating more in-person volunteering opportunities.


At Second Harvest, the health and safety of our communities, supporters and overall workplace are of paramount importance. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and as part of our continued efforts to maintain a safe workplace for our employees and partners, Second Harvest now requires that all visitors, employees and volunteers who attend the workplace or other onsite locations to be fully vaccinated with a COVID- 19 vaccine approved by Health Canada.


Volunteers who do not wish to be vaccinated, are medically ineligible to be vaccinated and/or have chosen not to be vaccinated due to religious beliefs can still volunteer with Second Harvest in a virtual capacity. Virtual volunteer opportunities are offered to all volunteers regardless of vaccine status and are subject to availability, based on organizational needs. In addition to our Vaccination Policy provided during onboarding, volunteers must comply with all Second Harvest health and safety protocols while performing volunteer duties and representing our organization. Additional health and safety measures include:

  • Properly wear a mask/face covering
  • Practice physical distancing
  • Submit an electronic COVID-19 screening questionnaire prior to each volunteer shift
  • Participate in contact tracing by signing in/out when on Second Harvest property and at event locations when necessary
  • Do not volunteer if you have COVID-19 symptoms, been in contact with some who has COVID-19 or travelled without observing a quarantine period, if required by the Government of Canada.
  • Instructions on how to confirm you vaccination status and our health and safety protocols will be provided to volunteers upon booking.

If you would like to register as a Second Harvest volunteer, please complete an application. If you have any questions, please contact our Volunteer Program Manager, Amanda Crawford at amandac@secondharvest.ca or 437.703.5550.