Make it a million to help the hungry.
Graciosa Condeco helps sort food with her team from work during launch of the Food Bank's holiday food drive on Wednesday. The Food Bank is short of its target heading into the holidays, and hopes to raise 1.2 million pounds of food and 1.2 million dollars to get needy patrons through the winter.
Staff photo/MARY GAUDET
Daily Bread Food Bank is asking Torontonians to repeat their generosity of last Christmas.
The Greater Toronto Area's (GTA) largest food bank launched its holiday food drive this week short $85,000 and 140,000 pounds of food from its recent fall food drive.
Last year, generous Torontonians made it a $1-million Christmas for the south Etobicoke-based non-profit organization. Donors also gifted Daily Bread with one-million pounds of food.
Gail Nyberg is urging Torontonians to be equally generous this Christmas.
The holiday drive runs through Jan. 3 with a goal of raising $1.2 million and 1.2-million pounds of food.
Some 36 per cent of people in the GTA who rely on food banks are children.
"We need to fill our shelves to make sure people are getting food not just over the holidays, but also over the next few winter months," Nyberg, Daily Bread's executive director, said in a statement. "It's not a question of if we can reach those goals. We have to reach them. If we don't, it means more people are going hungry and more families are doing without."
To donate, visit dailybread.ca or call 416-203-0050. Cheques may also be mailed to Daily Bread Food Bank at 191 New Toronto St., Toronto, ON, M8V 2E7.
Nutritious, non-perishable food may also be dropped off at any fire hall, Loblaws, Loblaws Great Food, valu-mart, nofrills or Real Canadian Superstore.
Most-needed items include baby food and formula, peanut butter, canned fruits or vegetables, canned meats or fish, powdered or canned milk, macaroni and cheese, hearty soups and stews, cans of lentils and beans and bags of lentils.
Hunger is not about lack of food. It is about lack of money to buy enough food to feed your family, Nyberg said.
Donations large and small are equally important, she said.
"Whether you can donate a can or $100, your donation is giving far more than just food. It's just hope, as well. Even the smallest donation makes a huge difference."