Spring Drive falling short - extending drive in hopes of meeting goals

TORONTO, April 5 /CNW/ - With less than half of the money and food donated that Daily Bread Food Bank needs to continue providing food to Toronto, Daily Bread has extended its Spring Drive to Saturday, April 17th in order to have a chance to reach its goals.

Originally expected to end this week, the Spring Drive has only seen 78,000 lbs of food and $70,000 donated - a far cry from the 250,000 lbs and $250,000 that Daily Bread needs. Gail Nyberg, executive director of Daily Bread Food Bank, says this has been the slowest drive she has seen since 2006. "The donations from the Spring Drive help fill the shelves and make sure we have enough food over the summer months, when donations tend to slow down because our donors are on summer vacation. Hunger doesn't take a holiday and that's why the donations from this drive are so important. So to see how slow it is right now worries me a lot."

Andy Quinn, Daily Bread's Transportation Manager, is used to seeing the phone ring off the hook so he can send drivers out to pick up food donations. "I've been here through 16 drives, and this is the slowest I've ever seen it. We'll need to dig deep to get through this one."

Over 200 volunteers will be in the warehouse today from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. sorting food donations as part of the second day of the Spring Drive public food sort. The Spring Drive has been extended until Saturday, April 17. It is easy to support the fight against hunger. Financial donations can be made securely, 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. Most needed food items include: 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, cans of beans or powdered, canned or tetra pak milk. Donations can be dropped off at any Loblaws, valu-mart, No Frills or Real Canadian Superstore until April 9th. Until April 17th, the public can drop off nutritious, non-perishable food at any local fire hall or any on-going drop off location. Please check out www.dailybread.ca for more information on on-going drop off locations.

Daily Bread Food Bank is an independent, non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. As Canada's largest food bank, Daily Bread serves people through neighbourhood food banks and meal programs in its 171 member agencies across Toronto. We know providing food to hungry people won't solve poverty; that's why Daily Bread does more. We work to support people by providing job training; researching and educating people on issues of poverty and moving forward with innovative and realistic solutions that will help people break away from poverty.

Daily Bread Food Bank is fighting to end hunger in our communities.

For further information: Sarah Anderson, Communications & Marketing Officer, T: [phone] ext. 238, E: [email protected], M: [phone]