Sandi Giesler

My journey with Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton began in 2016 when I signed up for my first fruit rescue. As a single mom, I’ve always prioritized feeding my family fresh, healthy food while making every dollar stretch. Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton gave me a way to do that while also giving back—sharing harvests with homeowners and Edmonton’s Food Bank was an experience that deeply resonated with me.

I loved that I could provide for someone else as well as myself and the homeowner. That always appealed to me.

Over the years, my role at OFRE has evolved. I volunteered to help maintain the OFRE Micro-Orchard, assisted in community cleanups, and joined conversations about transitioning OFRE from fruit rescue to food preservation and education. In 2024, I stepped into the role of President, guiding the organization through strategic planning and into its next chapter.

One of my most memorable moments was finishing a fall cleanup at the OFRE Micro-Orchard. Seeing an abandoned encampment and all the garbage and weeds that had grown was disheartening, but working together with volunteers to clean it up, and seeing the orchard restored, was incredibly rewarding.

My background is in finance, governance, and community building. I’ve spent over 35 years running my own bookkeeping and tax business, currently act as treasurer for my labor union, and sit on the board of a credit union, where I chair multiple committees.

Spreadsheets, tax forms, and ledgers? Love them. I know, I know—numbers aren’t everyone’s idea of fun, but balancing the books brings me the same satisfaction that gardening does. There’s something about making sure everything adds up—whether it’s finances or food security—that just feels right.

That’s why, outside of OFRE, I am an active member of my local community garden, be it planning, planting, mentoring or assisting in workshops and now serve as its food bank director. I also organize weekly bread pickups, collecting surplus from businesses and redistributing it to families in need.

For me, sustainability isn’t just something I talk about—it’s how I live. I grow my own food, compost, can and preserve what I harvest, and most importantly, I pass these skills on to my children and grandchildren. Knowing how to grow, harvest, and use food wisely is a skillset I believe everyone should have access to.

That’s why I’m so passionate about OFRE’s future.

Our shift to workshops, gleans, and education means we’re empowering people with the knowledge to create a more sustainable future—and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of.

I shared more about OFRE’s transformation and our renewed mission in my Message from the President, reflecting on the challenges we’ve faced and the exciting new direction we’re building together.

When I’m not volunteering or working, you’ll find me in my garden, cooking up something homemade, or teaching my grandkids the same skills I learned from my elders. And yes, occasionally geeking out over a well-balanced budget. Because whether it’s numbers or nature, I believe everything should be in harmony.