New annual campaign to meet increasing number of food bank visits

Daily Bread Food Bank launches holiday drive along with $8 million annual goal

TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Today marks the start of Daily Bread Food Bank's Thanksgiving Drive, a food drive and fundraising campaign. Client visits to Daily Bread Food Bank and member agencies have increased by nearly 30,000 over the last year. The holiday drive is the first step towards Daily Bread meeting its new annual goal of $8 million. The campaign pushes for a more meaningful impact in addressing poverty and hunger in Toronto.

"Over the last year we discovered 44 per cent of our clients had not eaten for an entire day due to lack of money," said Richard Matern, senior manager of research, Daily Bread Food Bank. "Many households are finding themselves in situations where they have to forgo eating to pay for other necessities such as rent and utilities."

Daily Bread's Thanksgiving Drive, in support of the annual campaign, runs from September 21st until October 14th. The money raised over the next year will support all of Daily Bread's initiatives and operations.

The annual campaign will allow Daily Bread to:

• Provide groceries for 80,000 people living on low income in Toronto – enough to make 5 million healthy meals.
• Provide raw ingredients and prepared food for 30,000 people at meal programs – supporting 2 ½ million meals provided at shelters, drop-ins and other programs.
• Support new food programs in the suburbs where people in need have difficulty accessing services.
• Implement dozens of training workshops and on-going support to member agencies.
• Work alongside government to develop meaningful poverty reduction strategies to end hunger.

"The demand for Daily Bread services has increased – an expected 110,000 people in Toronto will access food banks and meal programs this year," said Gail Nyberg, executive director, Daily Bread Food Bank. "Funds raised during the annual campaign will help us meet this increasing demand, supporting those living with hunger and poverty."

Financial donations can be made easily and securely online at www.dailybread.ca or by mailing a cheque to Daily Bread Food Bank, 191 New Toronto St., Toronto, Ontario, M8V 2E7. Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at any local fire hall.

Daily Bread Food Bank is an independent, non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. As Canada's largest food bank, Daily Bread serves people through neighbourhood food banks and meal programs in almost 170 member agencies across Toronto. We know feeding hungry people won't solve poverty; that's why Daily Bread does more. We work to support people by conducting research and creating awareness to end hunger through public policy change. For more information, please visit www.dailybread.ca.

SOURCE Daily Bread Food Bank

Daniel Skrba, Communications Intern, T: 416-203-0050 x 287, M: 416-450-2196, E: [email protected]