Many of us have been forced to give up certain luxuries in these hard times, but food probably hasn't been one of them.
The ability to put a decent meal on the table for your family is something you might take for granted. But those who use the Daily Bread Food Bank literally can't afford to.
The economic downturn isn't the only problem confronting the well known Toronto charity. Most people give to the cause during the holidays, and while things slow down at this time of year, the need never does. Which is why the Food Bank officially launched its spring drive Thursday, hoping for some "meals on weals."
"At Christmas and at Thanksgiving, it's a time to think about family and it's a time to think about food," observes director Gail Nyberg. "At the springtime, people just want to go out with their families so people aren't thinking about it. So we need them to think about it. This is the food that will take us through the summer and make sure that people are fed all summer long."
And don't let the stigma often wrongly associated with their efforts fool you. Nearly 80,000 people in the GTA visit a food bank every month and 34 per cent of those who receive food are children. Almost 30 per cent are from families with at least one person working. And just about half are people with a disability or a serious illness that prevents them from getting a job at all.
What do they need the most? Here's the list:
- Peanut butter
- Baby formula and food
- Canned fruit or vegetables
- Canned fish or meat
- Dried pasta and tomato sauce
- Macaroni and cheese
- Rice
- Lentils
- Cans of stew or hearty soup
- Powdered, canned or tetra pak milk
- Cans of beans
Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at any fire hall, Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstore. You can also make a donation through your credit card. Or you can simply send some badly needed cash online.
Click here to find out how and be sure to get involved in our annual all-day
CityNews Spring Drive Event on April 8th, when we'll try to raise a record amount of food in just a few short hours.