Olympians visit Daily Bread on Thanksgiving

Over the Thanksgiving Weekend, Daily Bread had some very special guests volunteering their time to help sort through food drive donations. Seven London 2012 athletes spent a morning with over 120 volunteers to help sort through over 40,000 pounds of food.  Thank you so much to special guests Robin Gayle, Alisha Tatham, David Wright, Alexandra Landry, Anastasia Muntyani, Katrina Cameron as well as federal MPs Ted Optiz and Bernard Trottier. Jason Burnett, London 2012 Olympian and 2008 Olympic silver medallist in Trampoline, also came out to volunteer, and shared his experience with us.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Daily Bread Food Bank. As a two-time Olympian, and U of T student, it has been difficult to budget time for activities outside of sport and school. But now that the London Olympics are over, and my training schedule is a little lighter, I can start to branch out from my slightly sheltered life.

I was really excited to help out at Daily Bread because I had never done anything like it before. It gave me the chance to not only try something new, but also to help out my community.

Before, during, and after the Olympics I received so much support from Canadians and I look forward to repaying their kindness by giving back to some of the less fortunate communities back home.

I had a great experience over the Thanksgiving weekend and can’t wait to continue working with the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Toronto-area companies recognized for contribution to fight against hunger

TVO launches Why Poverty? Campaign

On October 17^th, TVO launched a new website as part of their participation in an international Why Poverty? campaign. 

"The goal of the Why Poverty? campaign is to challenge people to think about poverty in ways they haven't before, and that was a perfect fit for TVO," says Jane Jankovic, TVO's commissioning editor. “Our Why Poverty? campaign will highlight the very personal experiences of those coping with poverty here at home. Through our programming and website and on social media, TVO is providing a platform for Ontarians to offer their perspectives and inspire them to consider solutions."

In addition to an interactive and educational website, TVO will be airing a number of documentaries starting in November that take a unique viewpoint on hunger at home and abroad. One of Daily Bread’s member agencies, a homeless shelter in downtown Toronto called The Good Neighbours’ Club, is highlighted in a series of short films by Ontario filmmakers that was commissioned by TVO specifically for this project. No Place Like Home looks at two men who are regulars at the shelter. To watch No Place Like Home online, click here.

Daily Bread Food Bank has also been involved in TVOKids Everybody Helps Out Campaign, which launched September 3rd and encourages kids to donate food to their local food bank or fire hall. Kids can go online to add their number of donated items to an online counter. The goal of the Everybody Helps Out Campaign is to raise 250,000 donated food items to food banks across Ontario. Did your kids or students participate in Daily Bread's Thanksgiving Drive? Don't forget to go online and let TVOKids know you're fighting hunger!

To find out more about TVO's Why Poverty? intiative, click here.

If you are interested in running a food drive, check out our website or contact dayana@dailybread.ca for more information!