Ottawa and Toronto battle to become Ontario's Turkey City

Food bank turkey drive takes place tomorrow at select Metro locations

TORONTO , Dec. 16 /CNW/ - The province's two largest food banks are giving a new meaning to 'The Battle of Ontario.' In the run-up to the holidays, Daily Bread Food Bank and the Ottawa Food Bank are hosting a Turkey Drive at a Metro location in each community on Thursday, December 17th . During the one day event, the food banks will be on-site accepting cash donations earmarked for the purchase of Ontario turkeys; the community that raises the most funds will be named Ontario's Turkey City.

The Turkey Drive is taking place in Toronto at Metro College Park at 444 Yonge Street, and in Ottawa at Metro Beechwood, located at 50 Beechwood Avenue. At each location, Metro shoppers can make donations of $20 which will help their food bank provide an Ontario turkey for a local family in time for the holidays.

"The people of Toronto are very generous, particularly at this time of year," said Gail Nyberg , Executive Director of Daily Bread Food Bank. "We're confident, by the end of the day, Hogtown will also be known as Turkey City."

To make things even more interesting, the heads of the two food banks have made a friendly wager; the Executive Director of the losing food bank will spend a day working in the warehouse for the winning food bank.

"We're going to gobble them up," said Peter Tilley , Executive Director of the Ottawa Food Bank, "We're calling on the people of Ottawa to help us win the Turkey City crown."

Ontario's Turkey City competition is sponsored by the Turkey Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

"To get things started, we are donating 75 turkeys to each food bank," said Janet Schlitt , General Manager for the Turkey Farmers of Ontario. "It's a friendly competition, but the most important part is that this will help families in need this holiday season."

Media representatives are invited to attend each event.

About Turkey Farmers of Ontario:

Turkey Farmers of Ontario, located in Kitchener, works with 192 turkey farmers who produce approximately 75 million kilograms of turkey annually. Ontario represents about 46% of the total Canadian market for turkey production. Over the past several years, Ontario turkey processors have developed many different turkey products in order to meet the demands of today's consumer. These products are widely available in both the retail and foodservice sectors. The Turkey Farmers of Ontario has been in operation since 1965 and take pride in the producer-run, producer-funded organization that has been achieving success in the turkey industry for over 40 years. Visit www.turkeyrecipes.ca or www.turkeyfarmers.on.ca

About Daily Bread Food Bank:

Daily Bread Food Bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. Daily Bread serves 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.

About The Ottawa Food Bank:

The Ottawa Food Bank is the National Capital Region's central emergency food assistance organization. Through its 127 member agencies, The Ottawa Food Bank helps 43,000 people each month, nearly 40 per cent of whom are children.

About Ontario Association of Food Banks:

The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) is a network of over 100 food banks including communities across the province from Ottawa to Windsor, and Niagara Falls to Thunder Bay. For more information about the OAFB, as well as hunger and poverty in Ontario, please visit www.oafb.ca.

For further information: Adam Spence, Executive Director, Ontario Association of Food Banks, T: [phone], M: [phone]; Heather Nahatchewitz, Marketing & Communications, Turkey Farmers of Ontario, T: [phone]; Peter Tilley, Executive Director, The Ottawa Food Bank, T: [phone], M: [phone]; Sarah Anderson, Communications & Marketing Officer, T: [phone] ext. 238, M: [phone]