Harvesting Hope 2017: $109K raised so far during CBC Manitoba's weekend-long drive for Winnipeg Harvest

Every second Monday, staff and volunteers at Winnipeg's Indigenous Family Centre distribute boxes of thoughtfully packaged food to dozens of patrons, who they think of as their guests.

Clients are thanked for coming, assigned a number and offered coffee to drink as they wait to receive their box in groups of three at a time.

The centre values the idea of dignity, said director Michele Visser.

"We never want people to feel like they have to line up, or wait outside or shuffle through," Visser said. "We want people to feel as if they were guests."

Visser's centre gets its food in bulk deliveries, dropped off on-site by a Winnipeg Harvest truck.

The boxes include fruit and vegetables, soup and crackers, dog food and cat food, and more, divided evenly between boxes so people don't have to worry about the supply running out before they get there.

"It's a continual challenge for people to be able to afford healthy food on a low, low income," Visser said.

Prodigy, from Miles Macdonell Collegiate

7 years ago

Duration 0:29

Musical group Prodigy performs for the Harvesting Hope fundraiser in our CBC studio.

"Some people [on social assistance] are getting maybe $8,000 [per year] to live on, and I'm actually being generous with that number.… Who of us can survive on that, and access food, clothing, shelter — basic human needs?"

• Listen, watch, give: CBC Manitoba's Harvesting Hope kicks off Friday

This year's Harvesting Hope — CBC Manitoba's annual, weekend-long fundraiser for Winnipeg Harvest — began at 6 a.m. Friday.

Total donations so far: $109,054

During the CBC Winnipeg News at Six broadcast on Friday an anonymous donor made a $25,000 donation, bringing the day's growing total to more than $100,000. 

"To get over the $100,000 mark toward the end of the evening made us extra, extra happy — we were happy to start with — but this just made our day," said Winnipeg Harvest communication manager, Sheldon Appelle. "It means a lot because every dollar that's raised gets put back into providing food for the 64,000 people that we feed every month. 

"So this will be a big help and it's a big step for us."

You can donate money for the food bank by phone via the toll-free phone line (1-800-949-8323) until 8 p.m. on Friday, or donate online until Sunday night.

The radiothon featured live performances from local musicians and stories from people who have used the food bank, while asking the public to donate money to the cause.

Last year, CBC audiences gave more than $172,000 for Winnipeg Harvest during Harvesting Hope.

Among the performers this year was J.D. Edwards, who played during the morning, and Tom Jackson who was on during the noon hour. Folk duo Nation of Two performed from 5 p.m.– 6 pm. on Up to Speed.

You can follow along on social media using the hashtag #CBCHarvestHope.

Food items can be dropped off at Winnipeg Harvest at 1085 Winnipeg Ave. or in the designated bin at some city grocery stores.​

Harvest's top five most-needed items this year are:

• Canned fish and poultry.
• Baby food and formula.
• Canned vegetables or fruit.
• Canned stew, chili or brown beans.
• Light peanut butter.

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J.D. Edwards

7 years ago

Duration 0:27

J.D. Edwards performs for the Harvesting Hope fundraiser in our CBC studio.