Photo credit: CBC
Hundreds of people volunteered at the Daily Bread Food Bank warehousing on Saturday to assist with the annual Thanksgiving Food Sort.
Toronto Today reports that about 14,000 people volunteer with the food bank every year, and 200 are active on a typical day. Usually, volunteers must register and then complete orientation and training. Bure what t during holiday food sorts, those requirements are reduced and the minimum age of 14 is lowered so that families with young children can more easily spend their holiday giving back to the community.
The warehouse operation at 191 Toronto Street felt particularly lively as the volunteers helped sort and pack non-perishable donations into boxes. Upbeat music played over a loudspeaker.
About 40,000 pounds of food was sorted/ It will be added to another 135,000 pounds scheduled for delivery on Tuesday morning.
The CEO Neil Hetherington addressed the volunteers and asked them to promise to share what they did over the weekend with friends and colleagues. Later this mnth, Daily Bread will announce its annual “Who’s Hungry” report. It provides data and recommendations for addressing poverty and hunger,
The 2024 report found that Toronto’s food banks had served a record-breaking 3.49 million clients. Daily Bread spent approximately $29 million to make that happen – up from about $1.5 million before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daily Bread Food Bank’s Thanksgiving will run until October 31. It aims to raise $4.4 million and 225,000 pounds of food.
To maintain its independence, the food bank does not accept government funding.
