On December 10, Daily Bread’s annual celebration of our volunteers brought together families, friends, staff, and supporters for an event filled with warm connection, gratitude and a lot of festive fun.
“Thank you for showing up week after week, with kindness, patience, and a spirit of service. You make an extraordinary difference,” Alison Gibbins, manager, volunteer services, said as she kicked off the night.
Guests enjoyed a delicious spread of gourmet dishes, all made by our talented chefs in the Daily Bread kitchen. Meanwhile, kids were entertained at the craft table, where they drew cards and made winter-themed art pieces to take home. One of the highlights of the night was the arrival of Santa, and everyone lined up to snap some photos, share holiday wishes, and enjoy a moment of magic. Adding to the excitement was our crowd-favourite raffle, featuring a variety of prizes.
While our CEO, Neil Hetherington, couldn’t join us for Winter Bash this year, he sent a note to express his gratitude for the tremendous and inspiring contribution from volunteers.
When Canadians are asked “What are they feeling right now?” The answer is “uncertainty.” It’s a troubling time that we’re living right now. However, I have great confidence in the certainty that you are providing support to the more than one in ten Torontonians who now make use of the Daily Bread Food Bank. Thank you for each of the hour that you commit to our critical mission that supports our city and our country.
Last year, 10,651 volunteers donated an incredible 132,925 hours of their time prepping ingredients in the kitchen, sorting food in the production hall, packing orders for our agency members, and making sure every client feel welcome when they walk through our doors. They are the driving force behind our work.
Bill Argeropoulos, a board member and a long-time volunteer at Daily Bread, said: “None of the work that we do can be done without you … At the end of the day, we are one big family helping many families in need.”
Join Daily Bread’s community of passionate volunteers now and make a meaningful difference in the fight to end hunger.
