At Daily Bread Food Bank, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Every item sorted, every meal served, every welcoming smile — it all helps create a stronger city where everyone’s right to food is realized.
On Wednesday, April 30, we gathered to celebrate the volunteers who make this work possible. It was an afternoon filled with gratitude, connection, and reflection on the power of collective action.
This year’s National Volunteer Week theme, “Volunteers Make Waves,” captures what we see every day at Daily Bread — the way small acts of generosity build into something much greater. Together, our volunteers create ripples of change that reach families and communities across Toronto.
The celebration featured inspiring remarks from keynote speaker Jesse Sudirgo of Norseman Food Bank, who spoke about the vital role volunteers play in building community resilience. His words reminded us that lasting change happens because of people who show up, support one another, and believe in a better future.
As Jesse so powerfully put it, “Let us not lose sight of the value each of you bring to the table. Let us embrace the power of ordinary citizens and recognize its vital role in shaping social change in our communities.”
Throughout the afternoon, we honoured the incredible contributions of our volunteer community. We celebrated Sandra Wong, who marked 10 years of dedicated service with our Information & Referral team.
We also recognized Latoya McIntosh, recipient of the Marie Tremblay Student Award — a distinction that honours leadership and impact among student volunteers. Read her award-winning essay here.
Volunteers were also celebrated for reaching major service milestones — from Bronze (300+ hours) to Silver (400+ hours), Gold (500+ hours), and Diamond (1,000+ hours). Special congratulations to Andrew Internicola, Fren Daley, and David Broadshaw, whose contributions have each surpassed an extraordinary 1,000 volunteer hours.
As the event came to a close, the spirit in the room was unmistakable: a shared commitment to making a difference. Every action matters. Every moment matters. And together, our volunteers are creating a wave of change that is helping to build a city where the more than one in ten Torontonians currently relying on food banks can access the food they need.
Make an impact in the fight to end hunger; volunteer with Daily Bread today.
