Daily Bread heats things up for the Fall Drive

Fall Drive gets underway with the help of Toronto Fire Services

TORONTO , Sept. 25 /CNW/ - With a goal of 500,000 lbs of food and $500,000 in donations, Daily Bread Food Bank kicked off their Fall Food Drive with the help of the men and women of fire hall No. 332 in downtown Toronto .

"The support of fire fighters and the public is critical now as well as in the future to ensure that Daily Bread can get help to those who need it," says Fire Chief Bill Stewart . Toronto Fire Services has always been a huge supporter of Daily Bread. Anyone can drop off donations of non-perishable food to their local fire hall. "It is so important that people get out and give during this drive," says Gail Nyberg , Daily Bread's executive director.

Surpassing one million client visits last year, Daily Bread continues to see an increase in the number of client visits to food banks. From May to July of this year, member agencies saw a 16% increase in client visits over the same period in 2008. "Though there are some upbeat things being said about the current economy, I want to make it very clear that for a large number of people this recession is far from over," said Nyberg. "The first people to feel the effects of this recession will also be the last ones able to get out of it - which means we still need your help and your continued generosity to feed the increasing number of people who are relying on food banks just to get by."

47 per cent of people who use food banks have a disability or serious illness, 35 per cent are children and 100 per cent rely on donations from the community, which is why the money and donations raised over the Fall Drive are so important. Daily Bread Food Bank receives no government or United Way funding.

The Fall Drive officially runs from September 25 until October 16, 2009 and it is easy to support the fight against hunger in the GTA. 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. The public can drop off nutritious, non-perishable food at any fire hall. Most needed food items include: baby formula and food; peanut butter; canned fruit or vegetables; canned fish or meat; dried pasta and tomato sauce; powdered, canned or tetra pak milk; macaroni and cheese; bags of rice; cans of lentils and beans; hearty soup or stew and bags of lentils.

Daily Bread Food Bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. Daily Bread serves these people through neighbourhood food banks and meal programs in its 171 member agencies. Daily Bread Food Bank fights hunger by providing food and resources for hungry people; mobilizing greater community support and creating social change through research, education and advocacy.

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