CBC Calgary's Blitz Day surpasses halfway mark to $1M goal for Calgary Food Bank

CBC Calgary's Blitz Day is aiming to beat last year's $1 million in donations for the Calgary Food Bank. 

At last count, the tally was $708,399. 

For 36 years, area residents have been donating to the Calgary Food Bank through CBC/Radio-Canada's annual Food Bank Drive — raising more than $21 million.

This year, we are happy to bring you Make the Season Kind: In support of the Calgary Food Bank.

Throughout December, Calgarians have been able to join us virtually for special broadcasts, events, auctions and online sales while helping us reach our goal of $1 million for the Calgary Food Bank. 

All through Thursday we have special holiday programming, giveaways and meet-and-greets with some of your favourite CBC hosts and personalities. Remember to register if you're hoping to get a chat in!

• Share with us how you're making the season kind at cbc.ca/feedyyc and be entered to win a local prize pack.

To help us reach our goal, you can make a $5 donation online and be entered to win a special home delivery of One Gray Knight from Calgary Eyeopener hosts David Gray and Angela Knight.

You can also win a prize pack if you share a heartwarming tale of how you showed or received an act of kindness this year. You can enter through the online form here or by using the hashtag #CBCFeedsYYC on Instagram or Twitter. 

We'll continue to share these heartwarming acts of kindness from Albertans in the days ahead, on the CBC Calgary radio programs Calgary Eyeopener, Alberta@Noon and The Homestretch, CBC Calgary's website and social media.

You'll be entered for a chance to win prize packs that include: 

• Julie Van Rosendaal's Cookies I Have Loved cookbook.
• A limited-edition Milk Jar candle.
• A $50 gift card to Bowtie Pizza.
• A 36-piece box of salted caramel chocolates from Master Chocolate.
• A chocolate gingerbread person from cochu Chocolatier.
• A wooden CBC-engraved tree ornament.
• A 12-ounce bag of One Gray Knight coffee beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters.
• A limited-edition One Gray Knight coffee mug.
• CBC Calgary winter swag (retro socks, tuque, scarf, mittens).

Here's how you're helping when you donate to the Calgary Food Bank:

• Every dollar donated to the Calgary Food Bank equals $5 worth of food distributed.
• 57% of the food bank users are families.
• 37% of food bank users are children.
• 75,654 phone calls for emergency food support resulted in 221,138 visits.
• 865,410 pounds of food were distributed through Food Link to 56 programs with a value of $2.3 million.
• Volunteers contributed 96,495 hours last year.
• 121,813 hampers were distributed through various programs.
• 88,177 hampers were distributed through the emergency food hamper program.
• More than 29,000 food hampers were distributed to the homeless population.

In-demand items to support the Calgary Food Bank:

• Canned tomatoes.
• Kraft Dinner.
• Canned beans (no pork).
• Canned fruit.
• Peanut butter.

Non-perishable food donations can be made in the donation bins at any major grocery store, the food bank warehouse (door #3) or at the outdoor bins located at the Parkdale Community Centre.

To learn more about how you can make the season kind and support the Calgary Food Bank, visit cbc.ca/feedyyc.

You can follow Blitz Day 2021 from a safe distance online and on the air:

The Calgary Eyeopener with David Gray and Angela Knight (6-8:30 a.m.)

Musical performance by the Rondel Roberts Band (8:30 - 9:00 a.m.)

Current Affairs: Ask Me Anything with Angela Knight, David Gray and Matt Galloway (9 - 10 a.m.)

Sports and Business: Ask Me Anything with Doug Dirks, Paul Haavardsrud and Scott Russell (10 - 11 a.m.)

Ask Me Anything with Andrew Phung and Tarik Robinson (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Alberta at Noon with Judy Aldous (12 p.m. - 1 p.m.)

Baking with Jenny Howe and Julie Van Rosendaal (1 - 2 p.m.)

News and Current Affairs: Ask Me Anything with Judy Aldous and Rob Brown (2 - 3 p.m.)

Farewell to Russell Bowers (3 - 4 p.m.)

Heartland Special with Amber Marshall (4 - 5 p.m.)

The Homestretch with Doug Dirks and Jenny Howe (3 - 6 p.m.)

News at 6 with Rob Brown (6 - 6:30 p.m.)