Two teams with ties to U of G are competing for the People’s Choice Award in the David Suzuki Foundation’s Future Ground Prize competition.

A woman and a man wearing matching gree nshirts hold a sign that reads MealCare
MealCare co-founders Kiana Gibson and David Sahai

The competition highlights citizen-led initiatives in Ontario that have benefited the environment and local communities. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is open online until June 16.

MealCare Guelph is an organization that collects leftovers from U of G’s award-winning food outlets on campus for donation to charitable organizations around Guelph.

Organized by students Kiana Gibson and David Sahai, MealCare Guelph reached a milestone of 16,000 lbs. of campus-prepared food donated to local charities this year.

Two women stand outdoors, one on left holding a grabber, the one on right holding a garbage bag
U of G grads Justine Ammendolia (left) and Jacquelyn Saturno.

In spring 2020, U of G grads Justine Ammendolia and Jacquelyn Saturno noticed a lot of personal protective equipment (PPE) littering their Toronto neighbourhood. They collected the litter and used a Marine Debris Tracker app to log more than 6,000 items of PPE that would otherwise have entered sewer systems and washed into rivers and lakes. Their Tracking PPE Litter initiative now includes citizen-scientists in several cities.

Winners of the People’s Choice Award get a cash prize and the opportunity to present their project virtually to David Suzuki and the public.

Vote for your favourite People’s Choice Award entrant on the Future Ground Prize website by June 16.

Related posts:

  1. Student-Run MealCare Project Donates Food to Local Charities
  2. MealCare Guelph Helping to Alleviate Local Food Insecurity
  3. New Biology Grad Wins Research Grants to Study “Pygmy Penguins”
  4. Veterinary Surgeon Cycles for a Cause