On November 3, 2023, Daily Bread Food Bank celebrated the grand opening of its newest member agency, Hillcrest Community Food Bank. Although the event signified a strong community spirit, and willingness to support neighbours in need, it also emphasized that Toronto’s growing food insecurity crisis is showing no signs of slowing down. Located at the intersection of Bathurst and Vaughan, Hillcrest Christian Church was selected as the home for the new food bank as it is nestled in an area experiencing high rates of demand. With local food banks stretched to their limit, the establishment of Hill ..read more

When the war in Ukraine started, Iryna and her husband never thought they would be forced to leave their home. But as the war escalated and became even more dangerous, they realized they had no other choice. Seeking refuge in Canada was better than trying to raise their daughter in a war-torn country.  ​But moving to Canada presented them with a new set of challenges.   ​They would have to rebuild their lives in a new country, without family, friends, or much support. With only her husband working, as Iryna learns English in a bridging program for immigrants, they quickly found that ..read more

Visits to Toronto food banks have increased by almost one million in the last year – the highest annual increase ever reported by Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank. Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank have released the annual Who’s Hungry report, a profile of food insecurity in the City of Toronto. This year’s report illustrates the grim reality facing tens of thousands of Torontonians, with one in ten people having to rely on food banks. In the last year, there were 2.53 million client visits to Toronto food banks – a 51% increase compared to the year p ..read more

Join CBC Toronto this December for a month-long celebration of community and kindness in support of food banks across the GTA.    You can help make the season kind and be a lifeline to families experiencing hunger. For ways you can support Daily Bread Food Bank and help fight hunger as part of this campaign, read on!   1. Make a financial gift   Your financial gift to Daily Bread through CBC Sounds of the Season will help provide emergency food access to thousands of families experiencing hunger this holiday season.    To donate online, click here.     To donate by pho ..read more

In Ontario, winters can be especially chilly, which naturally leads to increased energy use. Enbridge Gas will be on-site at Daily Bread in the coming weeks to spread the word about the Home Winterproofing Program—a free program designed to help reduce energy use and costs. The program offers eligible households energy-saving upgrades, such as insulation, draft proofing and a smart thermostat at absolutely no cost. Installation by a professional is included. This program is open to both homeowners and renters. To qualify participants must: Have an Enbridge Gas account in their name. Heat thei ..read more

Daily Bread held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 18, 2023, welcoming staff from 123 member agencies. The AGM is an opportunity for Daily Bread partners to come together to connect, network, vote on proposed changes, and receive recognition for their dedication to ending hunger across the city. This year, Daily Bread was honoured to welcome Mayor Olivia Chow as the evening’s Keynote Speaker. In her speech to the group, she highlighted the importance of storytelling and advocacy, and the power of coming together – urging the group, “let us work together, and let us lift each other up ..read more

On October 11, 2023, Daily Bread Food Bank hosted the panel discussion: “What could the Canada Disability Benefit mean for poverty & food insecurity?” with panelists from the new season of the 2030 Project Podcast.   The event focused on the forthcoming Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), an income support that would provide financial security, and help lift working-age people with disabilities, out of poverty. Close to half of food bank clients in Toronto have a disability. The CDB provides an opportunity to reduce, and even eliminate, poverty and food insecurity among Canadians with di ..read more

On October 7, 2023, Daily Bread welcomed almost 200 volunteers for our Thanksgiving food sort! Volunteers are essential in helping us meet this emergency need, and with their help we were able to sort and pack thousands of pounds of high-demand food donations that will be distributed to families facing hunger across the city. “We are deeply grateful to our community of volunteers for their dedication and commitment to making our city a better place,” said Neil Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank. “Food is a human right, and with the help of our volunteers, we are able to ensure that food ..read more

Kyle had followed all the steps that should lead to a life of security and comfort. He completed an apprenticeship that led to a successful career earning nearly six figures and purchased a home to build equity and create a solid financial foundation for the future. The thought of accessing a food bank had never occurred to him. And then, Kyle experienced a catastrophic workplace accident that left him unable to work. “Now that I’m receiving Worker’s Compensation, my salary is less than half of what I received while working. It’s only through the support of my girlfriend and the food bank that ..read more

On September 21, 2023, Daily Bread Food Bank announced our fundraising goals during our annual Thanksgiving press conference. With the city’s food insecurity crisis showing no signs of slowing down, Talia Bronstein, VP of Research & Advocacy at Daily Bread announced our goal to raise $3.8 million and 227,000 pounds of food to meet the crisis-level demand. In the weeks approaching the Thanksgiving season, we’re proud to share that through the rallying efforts of the community, we’ve received an overwhelming amount of support in our holiday fundraisers. Here’s what you have helped make happe ..read more