What started as a concept born from a desire to make a tangible difference quickly evolved into a significant endeavour. FeeMo, short for Feeding Montreal, is an organization that redirects surplus food from partnered grocery stores to community food organizations feeding the hungry in Montreal.
The FeeMo team is comprised of five McGill Desautels Bachelor of Commerce students: Molly Borritt (Vancouver, BC), Tayte Brown (Vancouver, BC), Maëlle Defer (Brussels, Belgium), Johan Leander (Malmö, Sweden), and Vishwa Srinivasan (Winnipeg, MB). Their unique backgrounds and areas of study— Business Analytics, Finance, Health Geography, Honours Economics, International Management, Managing for Sustainability, and Urban Studies, create a well-rounded team. Together, they unite diverse skills and passions to drive FeeMo's impactful mission.
FeeMo's journey was prompted by alarming statistics on food insecurity and waste in Canada. The students, inspired by initiatives in other cities and motivated by reports such as a 20% increase in food bank users in 2021 and $31 billion worth of annual food waste reported by CBC News in 2016, saw an opportunity to address these challenges. Recognizing a gap in Montreal's landscape, they decided to take action.
Since its inception in January 2023, FeeMo has made significant strides in its mission, completing over 30 deliveries, 3,600+ pounds of food have been provided to local Montreal organizations. This equates to over 4,000 meals served, and 1,800 kilograms of carbon dioxide diverted from landfills— an environmental win coupled with social responsibility. FeeMo earned an Impact Award, funding granted through the Integrated Management Student Fellowship which helps teams continue with their initiatives post academic year. The FeeMo team also collaborates with organizations such as Knead, a tech company in the food rescue space, to develop an app platform, and Selwyn House, a K-12 school in Westmount, enlisting with entrepreneurial high school students who developed a business plan to help move FeeMo’s mission forward.
The success of FeeMo can be attributed not only to the dedication of its founders but also to the experiential learning opportunities provided by McGill Desautels’ Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) program. A team member highlights, “We are lucky at McGill to have exposure to such a wide range of courses, but they are mostly theoretical, and classroom based.” For these students, the IMSF program was a gateway to applying theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting. It enabled them to leverage their classroom learnings in strategy, communication, marketing, stakeholder engagement, and funding allocation to drive meaningful change.
Reflecting on their McGill Desautels journey, the FeeMo team says, “the IMSF was, without a doubt, the highlight of [our] academic experiences.” The transformative nature of the group’s involvement in the program was met by the guidance and support received from the IMSF team and alumni network. Now, as cohort alumni, they remain actively involved and pay forward the mentorship and support they once received.
For current and future BCom students considering whether to apply to the IMSF program, FeeMo's message is clear: seize the opportunity. “You don’t need to have a lot of experience or be an expert in any particular field – all you need is an interest in social impact and an open mind.” The IMSF program provides a nurturing environment where students can explore their potential, contribute to meaningful projects, and forge lifelong connections. “The IMSF is a learning environment unlike any other – rigorous academic training that is driven by students’ interests, while keeping their personal and professional development in mind” says IMSF Academic Director Dr. Sabine Dhir.
As FeeMo continues to expand its reach and impact, the call for volunteers and partnerships grows louder. With plans for further expansion in monthly food deliveries, there are many opportunities for individuals and organizations to get involved. For those interested in joining the FeeMo movement, connect with the team directly through email (info.feemo [at] gmail.com), or their Instagram page at @feemofoodrescue.
The Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) is an experiential leadership development opportunity offered through the BCom program. It is designed for undergraduate students seeking to create real-world impact. Applications for the IMSF are open until March 15th for the upcoming 2024-2025 cohort. Watch a short IMSF informational video here.
