Please read our COVID-19 Safety Guidelines to find out how fruit rescues will be safely managed this season.
Once you have completed your fruit pick please split up the fruit into the following:
- ¼ goes to the homeowner (it will be in your pick confirmation email if they would like their share).
- ¼ goes to you the volunteer.
- ¼ goes to OFRE (it will be in your pick confirmation email if we would like our share).
- ¼ goes to a charity of your choice.
If one or more of these splits do not want their fruit share then please just split up the remaining fruit as best you can. At least ¼ of the fruit needs to be donated to a charity, other than that, please use your own discretion on how the fruit is to be distributed.
Either each individual can drop off fruit to the charity of their choice; or the group may pick a volunteer who will be responsible for dropping off the picks charity share. If you choose one representative then decide as a team which organization(s) you would like them to go. If there is more than 1 charity selected due to the large yield, or personal preference, then the drop off tasks should be split up within the group.
Below is a guide for charities that accept fruit donations. If you have a different organization in mind that you would like to donate to, you can do that as well. You may donate more fruit to the charity if you would not like your full share size.
Please remember to also fill out our post survey form so that OFRE knows where the fruit has been donated and how the pick went. Thank you!
Charity List
- Edmonton Food Bank
- Hope Mission
- Salvation Army
- WINGS (Women in Need Growing Stronger) of Providence
- The Candora Society of Edmonton
- WECAN Depots
- Westlock WECAN
For specific berries to donate as food for rescued wildlife at WILDNorth, please see the link below:
Charities NOT Able To Accept Fruit Donations This Year
- Meals on Wheels – Unfortunately, unable to accept fruit donations this summer.
- YESS – Unfortunately, unable to accept fruit donations this summer.
Edmonton’s Food Bank:
To be stewards in the collection of surplus and donated food for the effective distribution, free of charge, to people in need in our community while seeking solutions to the causes of hunger.
TYPES OF FRUIT ACCEPTED:
- Apricots
- Apples (tasty eating ones only)
- Cherries (sweet eating ones not sour ones)
- Currants
- Gooseberries
- Haskaps
- Nanking cherries
- Pears
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Saskatoons
- Sea buckthorn
No limit to fruit amount brought in. *Fruit must be ready to eat and not require processing*
Donation Info: 11508 – 120 Street, Edmonton, AB, T55 2Y2
Phone: 780-425-2133
Mon – Sat (excluding long weekends and holidays): 8:30am – 4:30pm drop off at reception.
Tues – Thurs: 8:30am – 8:00pm. After 4:30, go to the loading front dock and ring doorbell, staff or volunteer with assist.
COVID-19 Update:
Mon – Friday: If you don’t wish to enter the building, call 780-425-2133 on arrival.
Please let reception know you have a donation ,along with what your vehicle looks like. They will send someone out to assist you.
Thank you. We hope you have a great summer of fruit picking!
Hope Mission:
Is a non-profit Christian organization that has been caring for impoverished and hurting men, women, youth and children in Alberta since 1929. We have a drop in meal program and supportive housing meal program.
TYPES OF FRUIT ACCEPTED:
- Apricots
- Apples
- Cherries
- Pears
- Plums.
- Up to 200 Ibs per delivery
Donation Info: 9908 – 106 Ave NW Edmonton, AB T5H 0N6
Phone: 780-422-2018, for reception press 0.
Mon – Fri: 8am – 6pm.
Sat, Sun & holidays: 10am – 6pm.
There is a kitchen door for donations at the NW corner of the building by the green dumpster in the alley, may need to ring buzzer.
For weekend drops off’s: Please call ahead and use extension 267 (kitchen) and ring buzzer.
Salvation Army:
The Edmonton Community Resource Centre is a logistical and distribution hub for The Salvation Army’s ministry units and our partner organizations in Edmonton and the surrounding area. We collect donations and distribute them to our various feeding programs operated by our churches and residential programs throughout the Edmonton area.
Our churches operate food banks where members of the community can supplement their food supplies, and fresh fruit would be greatly appreciated. In addition, our residential programs serve meals to our residents and we strive to provide fresh fruit and vegetables with every meal. We also provide food to several partner organizations.
TYPES OF FRUIT ACCEPTED:
- We accept all types of fruit. For larger quantities of fruit donations, we have a refrigeration van and could make arrangements to pick the donation up.
Location: 9620 – 101 A Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0C7
Phone: 780-424-9222 Ext. 400
Mon – Fri: 9 am – 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Please call ahead. Donors can go to our drive-in bay door located in the alley behind our building and buzz for assistance.
WINGS (Women In Need Growing Stronger) of Providence:
WINGS of Providence is a second stage (long term) shelter and affordable housing for women with children who have experienced family violence. In addition to safe housing, WINGS provides wrap around programs and support services to aid the families in continuing on their journey of healing and independence – free from family violence. Poverty and hunger is a huge challenge facing many of WINGS families.
TYPES OF FRUIT ACCEPTED:
- Apples
- Crab Apples
- Apricots
- Evans/Sour Cherries
- Nanking Cherries
- Red Currants
- Choke Cherries
- Gooseberries
- Goji Berries
- Haskap Berries
- Pears
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Saskatoon Berries
- Sea buckthorns
- Up to 25 Ibs
Donation Info: Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm.
Phone: Please call for address and keep confidential. 780-426-4985
The Candora Society of Edmonton:
TYPES OF FRUIT ACCEPTED:
- All types of fruit accepted.
- 0-25 Ibs per delivery and up to 100 Ibs total.
Donation Info: #262, 3210-118 Ave, Edmonton, AB T5W 4W1
Phone: 780-474-5011 for reception.
Mon – Thurs: 9am – 4pm, closed from 12-1pm. Friday: 9am – noon.
Evening or weekend drop off can be arranged by calling & asking for Crystal. Office is in Abbottsfield mall, room 262. There is an elevator in the middle of the mall. For small donations (2-3) bags no need to contact prior. For larger amounts, please call Crystal or reception ahead of time to ensure donation space is available.
WECAN Depots:
WECAN connects individuals and families on a limited and/or fixed incomes, who are struggling at the end of the month to provide enough healthy food for their families. Families pre-pay monthly and are provided with a basket of fresh fruit, vegetables and meat at a low cost. Typically food baskets are picked up the third week of each month, however some of our depots provide food weekly.
Westlock WECAN:
We provide the food basket the third Friday of every month for 30+ families.
TYPES OF FRUIT ACCEPTED:
- All types of fruit accepted
- 25-50 Ibs
Donation Info: Westlock Gospel Church: 10227-97 Street, Westlock, AB.
Phone: 780-307-7760
Third Friday of every month between 9am – 11am. Please contact (text message is preferred) Pamela to arrange another time (780-307-7760) and prior to delivery. Fruit can be dropped off at the front door of the Westlock Gospel Church.
WILDNorth:
WILDNorth is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization. This incredible non-profit has been operating in Alberta since 1989!
Orphaned wildlife make up a large percentage of their patients. WILDNorth raises these young orphans in captivity. But, the goal remains to release the rehabilitated wildlife to fend for themselves.
The training program includes teaching young wildlife to feed themselves. As such, WILDNorth needs appropriate food, including berries (on the branch).
Any of the following berries (still on the branch) would be helpful:
- Mountain Ash Berries
- Canadian Serviceberries
- Red Elderberries
- Nannyberries
- Red Osier Dogwood Berries
- Nanking Cherries
- Buffalo Berries
- Saskatoons
WHICH BERRIES ARE EDIBLE FOR HUMANS?
- Red Elderberry – Toxic when not prepared properly
- Buffalo Berries – can cause stomach upset when eaten in large quantities
- Nannyberry – edible
- Red Osier Dogwood – edible, but not necessarily palatable
- Nanking Cherries – edible
- Saskatoon – edible
- Canadian Serviceberry – edible
- Mountain Ash Berries – not to be eaten raw. Please do research on preparation before consumption!
How to pick the berries
When picking berries, you need only to clip a tiny bit of the branch that the berry clump is attached to. This method avoids damaging the plant so that it continues to produce berries in the future.
Drop-off Location
Berry fruit donations may be dropped of at the location below:
WILDNorth Hospital, 12515 – 128 Street
Please email or call with questions.
Email: info@wildnorth.ca
Phone: 780-914-4118