Over $2.5 million donated during Daily Bread's Holiday Drive

740,000 pounds of food raised

TORONTO, Jan. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Thanks to many generous donations in the last week of the Holiday Drive, Daily Bread surpassed its goal of $2.5 million. Seventy-four per cent of the food goal was reached, with a final total of 740,000 pounds of food donated.

"Hunger doesn't take a holiday and neither do we," said Gail Nyberg, Daily Bread's executive director. "Although the Holiday Drive might be over, our fundraising and food-raising efforts will continue throughout the year. That includes seeking out new partnerships with the food industry and local food organizations to ensure that a healthy mix of food is delivered to our member agency food programs."

Just before Christmas, the Holiday Drive was barely at the halfway mark. In only seven days, over a million dollars was raised and 300,000 pounds of food was picked up.

"I was worried that we would not reach either of our goals but Toronto came through," said Nyberg. "There were many people helping us spread the message and I'd like to thank everyone who did so."

The Holiday Drive began at the end of November with goals of $2.5 million and 1 million pounds of food. Last year, the monetary goal was easily reached by December 31, 2013, but this year was a struggle. A generous $200,000 donation from an anonymous donor on the last day of the drive helped push the Holiday Drive towards the $2.5 million goal.

About Daily Bread Food Bank
Daily Bread Food Bank is a registered charity that is fighting hunger in our communities. A distribution hub, Daily Bread provides food and support to almost 200 food programs across Toronto. Daily Bread also works towards long-term solutions to hunger and runs innovative programs to support people on low incomes including a community garden, food services training program and an information and referral services program that trains member agencies to support food bank clients by connecting them to community resources.

SOURCE Daily Bread Food Bank

For further information: Sarah Anderson, Senior Manager, Communications, E: [e-mail], M: 416-450-2196