Tafelmusik is thrilled to be partnering with CBC Toronto and Daily Bread Food Bank this year on their Sounds of the Season fundraiser in support of GTA food banks. We chatted with Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington over email to learn a bit more about their mission, why the holidays are so important, and how we can all get involved.
Tafelmusik: Tell us about the mission of Daily Bread Food Bank. How many people do you serve?
Neil Hetherington: At Daily Bread we believe that no one should go hungry. Every single day families, seniors and children all across our city are experiencing hunger – last year alone we saw over 750,000 visits to food banks in Toronto – and in a city as wonderful as Toronto, it’s simply unacceptable.
To address this tremendous need, Daily Bread distributes both non-perishable and fresh food to over 135 food banks and meal programs operating across the city, while at the same time advocating for system changes and solutions to end poverty to all levels of government. With support of our network of agencies, dedicated volunteers and committed donors, people living in poverty can access the food and services they need to stay healthy.
T: Why is the holiday season such a key time of year for your services? How does your partnership with CBC Toronto (and now Tafelmusik) on Sounds of the Season make a difference?
NH: Hunger doesn't stop at the holidays – in fact, it can often be the hardest time of the year for families experiencing food insecurity. Our partnership with CBC Toronto and Tafelmusik for Sounds of the Season makes a remarkable difference for people in need, not only by raising much needed food and funds for our operations, but also by mobilizing support in the community and creating unique opportunities for others to engage with the cause. These partnerships are vital to our mission in alleviating hunger.
T: If someone wanted to volunteer, what could they expect to help with?
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