You are a professional organization Analytics Opti...

You are a professional organization Analytics Optimizer who will explore a topic and give detailed planning for the future of the organization to adress the issue, and prevent potential future problems.

here is the case:

Expanding Volunteer Recruitment for Home Harvest

Cultivating Change: Recruiting Volunteers

for Home Harvest

Organization: Leftovers Foundation

Prepared by: Enactus SAIT

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Background and Context
• Problem Statement
• Objectives and Constraints
• Data and Information
• Key Stakeholders
• Questions to Address
• Call to Action

Executive Summary

The Leftovers Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2012, is dedicated to
reducing food waste and promoting food security. One of its core initiatives, Home
Harvest, helps farmers and backyard gardeners redirect surplus produce to those in
need. While the program has made a significant impact by reducing food waste and
increasing food access, it faces a critical challenge: the program is unable to recruit
and retain enough volunteers to meet the growing demands of harvesting and delivery.
This underlying issue is causing key challenges: limited food rescue operations, a heavy
reliance on certain volunteer demographics (e.g. retirees), and an inability to meet the
growing demand for its service.

This case study explores strategies to address these core challenges, including
volunteer recruitment, retention, and logistical improvements. Participants will analyse
current efforts, identify gaps, and propose innovative approaches to build a sustainable
volunteer network. Key areas include marketing, outreach, community engagement,
volunteer experience, and leveraging partnerships. By solving this issue, participants
will help Home Harvest expand its impact, furthering its mission to reduce food waste
and support local communities.

Background and Context

Company Overview

The Leftovers Foundation is a well-known Canadian non-profit organization that works
to reduce food waste and make sure more people have access to good food. Mainly
serving Alberta and Manitoba, the foundation partners with local businesses,
restaurants, farmers, and individual donors to collect extra food that would otherwise
be thrown away. This food is then given to shelters, community centres, and other
groups that help people in need, tackling both environmental and social problems.

The idea for the foundation started in 2012 when founder Lourdes Juan noticed how
much edible food was being wasted. The organization officially became a nonprofit in

2015 and earned charitable status in 2018. Since then, it has grown and improved its
methods to become a leader in fighting food waste and hunger.

Working with a strong network of volunteers and community partners, the foundation
uses smart and sustainable ways to rescue food and get it to those who need it. One of
its main projects, Home Harvest , focuses on collecting extra produce from backyard
gardens and community spaces. In this seasonal program, volunteers gather fresh
fruits and vegetables to ensure that they reach people instead of going to waste.
However, the program still faces challenges, such as finding enough volunteers,
matching the right skills (like pairing people who can harvest with those who can drive),
and keeping a steady flow of funding.

To make an even bigger impact, the Leftovers Foundation keeps improving its outreach
methods by using social media, forming local partnerships, and engaging directly with
communities. The organization also uses data to track how much food waste it
reduces, improve how it operates, and measure the success of its programs. The
organization also has an app called Rescue Food App where users will be able to
access the front-facing volunteer side of the app after creating an account and signing
up.

By working together with other community organizations, government agencies, and
private companies, the Leftovers Foundation is committed to creating long-lasting
solutions to food waste and food insecurity in Canada. The goal is to reach more people
and make a real difference in local and national food systems by raising awareness,
encouraging volunteer work, and using programs that can grow over time.

Industry Overview

Industry Landscape

The food waste and food rescue industry in Canada operates within a critical segment
of the broader environmental and social impact markets. This industry is dedicated to
intercepting and redistributing surplus food to address food insecurity, reduce
economic losses, and mitigate environmental damage.

Key Numbers and Trends

• Food Waste Volume: Approximately 46% of food produced in Canada is wasted
  annually, according to Second Harvest.
• Economic Impact: This level of waste translates into about $58 billion in lost
  value each year, demonstrating the substantial economic burden associated
  with inefficiencies in the food supply chain.
• Environmental Impact: Food waste in Canada produces roughly 25.7 million
  metric tonnes of CO_2 emissions. To put this in perspective, these emissions are
  equivalent to the output of 253,000 flights from Toronto to Vancouver, largely
  due to methane emissions from decomposing food in landfills.
• Household and Per Capita Figures: On average, Canadian households waste
  between 30% to 40% of the food they purchase, with each person wasting
  roughly 100 to 150 kilograms of food per year.
• Food Redistribution Impact: In 2024, through the Rescue Food program, the
  Leftovers Foundation rescued approximately 1,057,867 lbs of good food from
  ending up in landfills.

Opportunities

• Technological Advancements: There is significant potential for growth through
  the adoption of technology. Mobile apps, real-time data analytics, and improved
  logistics can enhance the efficiency of food rescue operations by matching
  surplus food with recipients quickly.
• Policy Initiatives: Provincial and municipal policies—such as tax incentives for
  businesses donating surplus food—offer opportunities for improved food
  recovery processes. As government attention to food waste increases, further
  regulatory support could spur innovation and investment in this area.
• Community Engagement: Rising public awareness and demand for
  sustainability have created opportunities for expanding volunteer networks and
  community partnerships. These collaborations can boost the effectiveness of
  food rescue programs and drive further social impact.

Challenges

• Measurement and Data Discrepancies: Estimates of food waste in Canada
  vary, with figures ranging from 30% to 60% depending on the study. This
  variability presents challenges in creating uniform strategies across the industry.
• Logistical Hurdles: Efficiently collecting and redistributing food across various
  points in the supply chain—from production to household levels—remains a
  complex task, compounded by the need to match food donors with rescue
  organizations in real time.
• Resource Limitations: The significant economic and operational challenges,
  including securing adequate funding and managing volunteer resources,
  constrain the scalability of food rescue initiatives.

This highlights the need for programs like Home Harvest. Food security and
sustainability are growing concerns, aligning with Leftovers’ mission. Similar
organizations, such as Second Harvest, also focus on reducing food waste through
partnerships and volunteer-driven initiatives.

Home Harvest Program

Home Harvest began in Calgary in 2020, expanding to Edmonton and Winnipeg by 2023.
The program rescues surplus fruits and vegetables from backyard gardens and delivers
them to food banks and other service agencies. Volunteers are central to this operation,
with some produce retained by the volunteers for personal use. Despite its success,
the program’s growth is limited by challenges in volunteer recruitment, awareness, and
operational scalability.

Viewing – The Leftovers Foundation first contacts their partnered growers to confirm if
their crops are ready for harvesting. During this stage, they assess the location and

schedule the harvest using an automated tool to align the availability of growers and
volunteers. The process also involves coordinating the volunteers for the harvest,
planning the distribution of the harvest, and reviewing both the harvest and drop-off
instructions.

Preparing – Upon signing up, new volunteers receive an onboarding email which
contains both an overview of their volunteer role, as well as the Volunteer Manual which
provides specific instructions. Additionally, Leftovers' City Coordinators reach out to
each new volunteer upon sign-up to introduce themselves and offer additional
support. Afterwards volunteers gather the necessary equipment for the harvest. This
includes a vehicle for transporting donations, at least one additional volunteer to assist,
containers, a ladder, a rake, and a fruit picker for harvesting fruit trees. Volunteers also
perform basic equipment checks to ensure everything is in good working order.

Harvesting – Before beginning, volunteers conduct an initial assessment of the
produce to confirm its quality and readiness. They also receive a brief training session
covering proper harvesting techniques, safety protocols, and equipment usage to
ensure a smooth and efficient process. Volunteers then follow detailed guidelines on
how to properly harvest different types of produce, including best practices for picking
and storing produce to maintain freshness. They carefully check for pests, assess
ripeness, and document any anomalies using the mobile app, which helps track
harvest data and quality control. Sustainable harvesting techniques are emphasized to
minimize waste and protect the plants. Leftovers staff prioritizes harvests based on
harvest size, waitlist order, and volunteer proximity. When volunteer coverage is low,
coordinators prioritize harvests to ensure completion, favouring those with available
volunteers even if not first on the waitlist.

Post-Harvesting – Once the harvest is complete, volunteers deliver the produce to the
designated drop-off point. After the delivery, they update the app to record the harvest
details—including yield, any challenges encountered, and suggestions for
improvement—and are encouraged to participate in a brief debrief to provide feedback
on the process. Additionally, volunteers clean and sanitize all used equipment to
ensure it remains in good condition for future operations.

Harvest Prioritization

When volunteer numbers are low, Leftovers staff prioritize harvests based on:

• Harvest size
• Waitlist precedence
• Volunteer proximity

While the goal is to follow the request order, limited volunteer availability means
coordinators must sometimes prioritize other harvests to maximize impact. Completing
one harvest is better than completing none.

What Happens to Unharvested Fruit?

When there are not enough volunteers available, city coordinators may step in to
complete the harvest, though their capacity is limited. If the fruit has already been
harvested but just needs delivery, staff will provide growers with locations to deliver
their harvests directly. However, when neither of these options is feasible, the fruit
unfortunately goes unharvested, and the grower is informed by the City Coordinator.

Recruitment Process

Grower Sign Up - Individuals with excess produce can sign up as growers by filling out
the Home Harvest form on the Leftovers Foundation website. Once registered, the City
Coordinator will provide instructions on accessing the grower portal.

App/Web Based Registration - Volunteers interested in participating in the Home
Harvest program can download the Leftovers Rescue Food App. They can select Home
Harvest routes that fit their schedule using the app. Volunteers help harvest produce,
with a portion going to service agencies and some available for the volunteers
themselves**.**

Training for New Volunteers - Upon signing up, new volunteers receive an onboarding
email containing an overview of their role and a Volunteer Manual with specific
instructions. City Coordinators also reach out to introduce themselves and offer
additional support.

Problem Statement

How can the Leftovers Foundation address the root causes of its current challenges in
attracting and retain more volunteers for its Home Harvest program to meet increasing
demand and achieve its mission of reducing food waste and improving food access?

Home Harvest is experiencing significant challenges in recruiting and retaining
volunteers, which limits its ability to meet increasing harvest requests. The current
recruitment strategies have not been effective in attracting a diverse and sustainable
volunteer base. Additionally, operational inefficiencies and a heavy reliance on retirees
with physical limitations further exacerbate the issue. Without improvements in
recruitment, retention, and operational logistics, Home Harvest cannot maximize its
impact on food security and waste reduction. How can the Leftovers Foundation

develop and implement strategies to build a sustainable volunteer network that meets
the growing demand for harvesting and delivery services?

Objectives and Constraints

Objectives

1. Expand Volunteer Recruitment: Attract diverse volunteers to meet operational
   demands.
2. Increase Food Access: Ensure more surplus produce is harvested and
   delivered.
3. Engage Communities: Build awareness and partnerships to strengthen
   community support.
4. Optimize Operations: Pair volunteers effectively for harvesting and driving
   roles.

Constraints

1. Budget Limitations: Limited funds for promotions, requiring creative use of
   resources.
2. Volunteer Demographics: Heavy reliance on retirees with physical limitations.
3. Logistical Challenges: Difficulty coordinating roles for harvesting and driving.
4. Fulfilment Gap: Only 20% of harvest requests are currently met.

Data and Information

Financial Data

Category Details Revenue Grant funding and private donations Expenses Staff wages and warehouse costs Promotional Costs Posters, postcards^

Volunteer Data

Aspect Details Current Base Primarily retirees Challenges Physical limitations, mismatched roles Requests Fulfilled

20% of 98 harvest requests

text
Volunteer Survey
(2024)

text
The most common reason for volunteers
not engaging with Home Harvest was
physical limitations due to age

Industry Trends

Trend Details Food Security Increasing national and global concern Sustainability Focus

text
Rising importance among organizations and
communities

Competitor Insights

text
Competitor Strategy
Second
Harvest Digital platforms, community events^

Recruitment Efforts

• Methods Used: Posters, postcards, tabling at farmers markets, and volunteer
  recruitment websites like Volunteer Connector. These methods have not
  generated the required volunteer support.
• Outcomes: Farmers markets have brought in individuals with homegrown
  produce to donate, mostly apples, but volunteer recruitment remains
  insufficient.
• Social Media Efforts: Local Facebook groups are used for food rescue routes
  and tend to have moderate success. Success is measured by route coverage.
• Radio Promotions: Some radio spots were aired to promote the program.

Key Stakeholders

Stakeholder Role Lourdes Juan Founder, provides vision and leadership Program Manager Oversees operations and volunteer coordination Volunteers Perform harvesting and delivery tasks

Food Donors

text
Businesses and community members who donate
surplus food. Growers in the Home Harvest program
fall into this category.

text
Service Agencies Non-profits, churches, and service organizations that
distribute rescued food to those in need.

Questions to Address

1. What are the key barriers to volunteer recruitment and retention, and how can
_they be overcome?

1. How can Home Harvest develop targeted strategies to attract younger and more_
   _diverse volunteers?
2. What improvements can be made to the volunteer experience to increase_
   _engagement and long-term retention?
3. How can Home Harvest optimize its operational model to better match_
   _volunteers with the right roles?
4. What innovative partnerships or community collaborations could help_
   strengthen the volunteer network?

Call to Action

Participants are encouraged to propose actionable, innovative strategies to address the
volunteer recruitment challenge. The focus should be on developing targeted
recruitment strategies for younger volunteers, improving retention, and optimizing
volunteer engagement. Consider leveraging technology, community networks, and
partnerships to ensure the long-term success of the Home Harvest program. Your
insights can help expand its reach and amplify its impact on food waste reduction and
food security.

here is the analysis:
一、案例全景解析

1. 核心问题定位
   行业特性：食品救援行业具有强社区属性+季节性波动+情感驱动特征

组织阶段：成熟期非营利组织面临规模化瓶颈

触发事件：20%的收割请求满足率暴露系统脆弱性

问题诊断矩阵

层级 显性问题 潜在系统漏洞
表象层 志愿者数量不足 单一招募渠道失效
结构层 角色匹配低效 岗位设计缺乏弹性
文化层 代际参与差异 组织叙事与年轻人价值观错位
2. 利益相关方能量图谱
高危群体：体力受限的老年志愿者（高参与度但低可持续性）

隐形操盘手：企业CSR部门（潜在团体志愿者来源）

情绪放大器：社区健身团体（健康生活方式倡导者）

3. 风险预警清单
   灰犀牛风险：老年志愿者自然流失的系统性危机

黑天鹅风险：极端天气导致集中性收割需求爆发

青蛙风险：志愿者参与频次逐年递减未被察觉

二、关键障碍深度解析

1. 招募漏斗失效分析
   mermaid
   复制
   graph TD
   A[认知阶段] -->|传统宣传覆盖有限| B(考虑阶段)
   B -->|缺乏场景化价值传达| C(注册阶段)
   C -->|APP注册流程复杂| D(参与阶段)
   D -->|角色匹配错位| E(留存阶段)
2. 代际需求差异对比
   维度 退休志愿者 Z世代志愿者
   参与驱动力 社会价值实现 技能成长+社交资本
   时间偏好 固定时段 碎片化灵活时段
   沟通渠道 电话/邮件 Instagram/TikTok
   激励需求 社会认可 数字徽章+体验报告
3. 运营断点诊断
   角色固化：收割/运输捆绑导致技能浪费

响应延迟：从注册到首次服务平均需72小时

反馈缺失：缺乏志愿者贡献可视化系统

三、解决方案框架

1. 结构性改革方案
   「三阶志愿者引擎」模型

mermaid
复制
graph LR
A[流量层] --> B[转化层] --> C[留存层]
A -->|社交媒体挑战赛| B
B -->|游戏化角色测试| C
C -->|技能成长地图| A
具体措施：

流量层：与健身APP合作推出"卡路里换食物"活动，同步开展高校"食物正义黑客松"

转化层：开发5分钟情景模拟测试，自动推荐最佳服务角色（收割专家/物流指挥官/质检达人）

留存层：建立志愿者技能护照，记录收获处理量、碳减排值等可量化贡献

2. 运营优化方案
   弹性岗位设计：

分解收割任务为：侦察员（质量评估）、采摘师（技术执行）、运输官（物流配送）

允许角色自由组合（如"周末运输官+平日质检员"）

即时反馈系统：

开发AR收割指导工具，实时纠正技术动作

每次服务后生成个性化影响力报告（例：本次拯救42人日餐食，等同减少0.3吨CO_2）

3. 伙伴网络扩展
   企业联盟计划：

设计"团队服务日"套餐，提供CSR报告自动生成服务

与外卖平台合作，骑手可接单配送救援食物

教育机构合作：

将服务时长转化为学分，开发食物系统在线课程

建立校园大使网络，配备物资支持包

四、关键实施注意事项

1. 代际过渡管理
   保留老年志愿者的知识传承功能，设立"导师勋章"体系

创建跨代际服务小组，设计知识交换积分机制

2. 技术应用陷阱防范
   保持人工协调通道，避免完全依赖APP造成数字鸿沟

实施双轨培训体系（视频教程+线下工作坊）

3. 弹性容量建设
   建立"危机响应志愿者库"，提供优先参与权换取紧急响应承诺

设计阶梯式任务包：从1小时微任务到全天深度参与

4. 文化适配策略
   重构组织叙事：从"慈善救助"转向"食物系统革命"

开发志愿者专属文化符号：定制工具包、年度影响力庆典

5. 数据治理强化
   建立三维评估指标：

运营维度：人效比（公斤/志愿者小时）

体验维度：NPS净推荐值

发展维度：志愿者技能成长指数

设置数据看板，实时监控区域服务覆盖率

五、风险控制机制

1. 熔断机制设计
   当新志愿者30天留存率低于40%时，自动触发体验优化小组介入

建立备选供应商名单，在关键岗位空缺时可临时外包

2. 动态调整方案
   每季度开展"假设颠覆"工作坊，压力测试现有模式

设置10%的"自由实验预算"用于快速验证新想法

3. 法律合规审查
   志愿者意外保险覆盖范围扩展到非固定服务场景

明确食物质量责任的分配机制

六、成效评估体系
三级成果指标

时间维度 关键指标 目标值
短期(0-3月) 新志愿者注册转化率 从15%提升至35%
中期(6-12月) 志愿者月均服务频次 从1.2次提升至2.5次
长期(1-3年) 城市社区渗透率 从核心社区扩展到80%居民区
通过该方案的实施，Leftovers Foundation可构建可持续的志愿者生态系统，需特别注意代际过渡的平滑性、技术工具的适老性设计、以及危机响应能力的持续建设。建议选择两个试点城市进行对照实验，6个月后开展模式迭代。