We need to fill our shelves! Help us raise $300,000 and 300,000 pounds of food by April 13. You can donate online or drop off food donations of nutritious, non-perishable food donations at any local fire hall.

Register a Food Drive today!

Daily Bread launches Spring Drive with goal of $300,000

While the days grow warmer, the shelves at Daily Bread Food Bank have started looking barer. That’s why this year’s Spring Drive is aiming to raise $300,000 and 300,000 pounds of food in order to restock.

“We’ve set a slightly higher goal for the Spring Drive this year and we know it’s going to be a challenge. If we can raise $300,000 and 300,000 pounds of food during this drive, it means families in Toronto won’t go hungry,” says Daily Bread’s executive director, Gail Nyberg.

While families sorted and packed food donations during Daily Bread’s annual youth volunteer event, March Break Madness, Daily Bread’s transportation department was getting ready for what will hopefully be a busy few weeks of picking up donations from local fire halls and community food drives.

“We have seven trucks that are often on the road up to ten hours a day,” says Laurie Snyder, senior manager of operations. “Not only are our drivers delivering the food to food banks and meal programs, they are also picking up extra food during the drive which means we plan on having trucks out on Saturdays and volunteers drivers helping us out.”

The Spring Drive runs until April 13. You can make a difference by donating online at www.dailybread.ca or by calling 416-203-0050. Cheques can be mailed to Daily Bread Food Bank at 191 New Toronto Street, Toronto ON M8V 2E7.

Drop off nutritious, non-perishable food at any fire hall. Most needed food items include: baby formula and food; peanut butter; canned fruit or vegetables; canned fish or meat; dried pasta and tomato sauce; powdered, canned or tetra pak cartons of milk; macaroni and cheese; bags of rice; cans of lentils and beans; hearty soup or stew and bags of lentils.

Our March eNews is out!

Also, our Spring Drive has so far only raised $75,000 and just over 25,000 pounds of food. With the drive ending on April 13th, we need to raise $225,000 and 275,000 pounds of food in about two weeks. Donate online right now by clicking here, or drop off nutritious, non-perishable food donations at your local fire hall, Loblaws, nofrills or valu-mart and help us reach our goals!

We are pleased the McGuinty government continues to increase the Ontario Child Benefit rates, but are cautious since they have delayed on the original implementation time lines promised. We hope one year, that is now stretched to two, does not continue to stretch further into the future as Ontario families stretch deeper into poverty.

We realize difficult decisions have to be made in order to create a balanced budget and create a base for a stable financial future. However, part of creating a stable financial future does not mean creating a deeper hole for those already struggling to make ends meet and provide food for their families. Investing in a poverty reduction strategy means investing in the future employment opportunities,  health, and financial stability of Ontarians. If hunger is a direct result of poverty, then so are the health care implications, and the increase in health care costs that come with it for the province. No action on the social assistance system will likely create more health care spending as food prices, cost-of-living inflation and rents continue to increase this year and beyond and people compromise their health while trying to maintain a roof over their heads. No action will also limit the ability of being able to transform to a system that will help more people into jobs and to become financially independent.

What we are looking forward to seeing are the recommendations for improving the income security system from the Social Assistance Review. We expect the Ontario government to take those recommendations seriously and present short- and long-term plans and commitments to implementing those recommendations that will make a serious impact on eradicating poverty and helping those who are struggling in the system. A commitment to a vision for transformative change is more important now than ever. What we don’t want to see is yet another review wasted without positive action being taken. We want change, and we will fight for it.

Earlier this month, Executive Director Gail Nyberg joined hundreds of guests at the Prospectors & International Conference and Trade Show.  The occasion was the Partners for Charity event organized by Teck Resources Limited. Teck has been a proud partner with Daily Bread Food Bank since 2008 when the global downturn hit everyone, especially charitable organizations. At Teck, sustainable community development covers community partnerships and investments, donations and community capacity building. The boom and bust cycle that frequently accompanies the mining industry creates far-reaching social impacts, and it’s for that reason Teck believes that support to communities must remain constant.

We at Daily Bread very much appreciate that continuing support. While some of us have made it through the recession unscathed, it’s important to remember that the number of people using food banks is still about 25% higher than it was prior to the downturn in 2008.

And we’re especially grateful that Teck has brought new partners on board. This year, Teck challenged partners AQM Copper Inc., Catalyst Copper Corporation, Copper Fox Metals Inc., Horizonte Minerals Plc and Strait Gold Corporation to join them in supporting Daily Bread, and pledged to match all funds raised. Thanks to the participation of all these companies (represented in the photo, above), plus thousands of dollars raised by guests making donations at the door and on the floor, Teck marshaled an extraordinary $127,807 (!!!) to deliver food and other support to children and adults across the city.

Thank you to all who attended, contributed and supported our vital programs, and a huge thank you to Teck Resources Ltd. for this wonderful demonstration of corporate leadership.

It’s that time of the month again!

Please join Ambassador Setareh Sarmadi, Photo Editor for SportsNet Magazine, at Toronto’s Tampon Tuesday event next Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 at Jack Astors Bar and Grill located at 133 John Street, Toronto.

Grab some Tampons, grab some friends and come join us in supporting the Daily Bread Food Bank!

Join the crew from Breakfast Television and CityNews for the BT/CityNews Food Drive at the Loblaws at Victoria Park and Gerrard on Wednesday, April 4th. Bring a non-perishable food item and meet your favourite Citytv personalities,, such as Jennifer Valentyne, Frank Ferragine, Adam Stiles, Gord Martineau and Tom Hayes. Stay tuned throughout the day as the collection bins fill thanks to your donations and don’t forget to tune in to CityNews at Six for the drawing of a grand prize! The prize at the moment is a secret, but it will be amazing!

If you can’t come down to donate, you can also donate online to the BT/CityNews Spring Food Drive by clicking here.

The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) released a new report on hunger in Ontario. According to their report, there ar 395,000 individuals in Ontario who rely on food banks. The OAFB also recommends that the Ontario government adopt a housing benefit, to help people on low incomes who are struggling with housing costs.  You can download the report here or check out the article on the report from the Toronto Star here.

• 395,000 individuals a month rely on food banks

• One in 33 Ontarians goes hungry each month

• 39% are single adults

• 38% are under age 18

• 45% are on welfare

• 10% are first-time users

• Average user pays 72% of income on rent

Want to spend some time over the April long weekend helping out others in your community? Come volunteer at Daily Bread’s Spring Drive Public Food Sorts! Beginning this Monday, March 19 at 8:30 a.m., we will begin accepting registrations by phone at 416-203-0050. Advanced registration is required, and we will not be accepting any registrations before Monday.

Individuals, families and small groups (15 people or less) are welcome! Please remember that for health and safety reasons absolutely no children under the age of 8 are allowed in the warehouse. We are a working warehouse with forklifts and trucks and it is not safe for children under that age. Please remember to wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and absolutely no open-toed shoes. No sandals, no peep toes…it may be warm outside but we have lots of things in the warehouse that can accidentally run over unsuspecting toes. You, along with another hundred volunteers, will be sorting through Spring Drive food donations at our warehouse located at 191 New Toronto Street (Islington and Lakeshore).

Children and teenagers between the age of 8 and 17 must have a permission and waiver form signed by a parent or guardian and must bring the signed form with them on the day they are volunteering. You can request this form during regular business hours from volunteer@dailybread.ca. Paper forms will also be available onsite. Please print, sign and bring with you on the day you are volunteering. Volunteers aged 8-14 must also be accompanied by an adult alongside whom they will be volunteering throughout the shift.

The following dates and shifts will be available:

Saturday, April 7 : morning shift 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  OR afternoon shift 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. OR full-day shift 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, April 9: morning shift 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.OR afternoon shift 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. OR full-day shift 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Are you a high school student who needs volunteer hours? Are you a family that would like to spend some time volunteering over March Break? Come help sort through food donations and learn more about what Daily Bread does during March Break Madness!

From the afternoon of Monday, March 12^th to the morning of Friday, March 16^th, high school students (age 15 and up) are invited to come in to volunteer during our regular business hours. Students will have the opportunity to help sort food donations, while completing their required 40 hours of community service. On Monday, March 12 and Friday, March 16, we also have some shifts set aside for families to come and volunteer. Minimum age is 8, and an adult or guardian must accompany anyone age 14 or under.

We have limited spots available which means advanced registration is mandatory! Please register by contacting Lauren Fitzgerald, Youth Program Coordinator, at learn@dailybread.caor 416-203-0050 x289.

Please put March Break Volunteering in the subject line of your email and include your preferred date and full name in the body of your email. Lauren will be in touch with you via e-mail to confirm your booking. Spaces are limited and reservations will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Find out more: http://www.dailybread.ca/march-break-madness-2012/