CBC Toronto's Make the Season Kind raising money for local food banks

CBC Toronto held its annual holiday fundraiser on Friday, raising more than $466,000 for food banks across the Greater Toronto Area. 

Make the Season Kind aims to raise money for local food banks at a time when the need is greater than ever. CBC News has reported extensively on food insecurity in the region and the challenges food banks face in feeding tens of thousands of people.

David Common and the Metro Morning team kicked the day off in the Glenn Gould Studio alongside a number of fabulous musical guests including William Prince, Zenesoul, Peter Dreams and Katie Tupper performing both original tunes and holiday season classics.

Here and Now, hosted by Ramraajh Sharvendiran, rounded out the afternoon with live music from Anjulie, The Free Label and AHI in the studio. 

• If you'd like to donate online, head to our Make the Season Kind website here

WATCH | Some root causes of food insecurity in the GTA: 

Analyzing the root causes of food insecurity in marginalized communities with a GTA researcher

6 days ago

Duration 5:28

Almost half of Black youth in Canada are considered food insecure and the issue goes well beyond not having enough food in the fridge. Sharita Henry, a food security researcher with a focus on marginalized communities, says it’s all about tackling the root causes. Henry joined Metro Morning host David Common for a live discussion on Make the Season Kind.

About one in 10 people in Toronto currently depend on food banks, and last year more than 50 per cent of new food bank users came from households where at least one person is employed.

Karl Balluch is a volunteer at the Rouge Park Food Bank in Scarborough. He has a job but in recent years has turned to the food bank for assistance as the cost of living has increased.

"I work full time, I don't make a lot of money, but I need to use the food bank," he told the live audience Friday.

Balluch said about 60 per cent of his income goes to rent, and there isn't much left for the necessities or small pleasures.

"It's difficult. It can be frustrating. God forbid I want to go on a vacation, or go out to see a movie. I have a daughter and I have a grandson now, it's difficult to spend time with them because there isn't much I can do given how tight things are," he said.

Balluch said Saturdays at the Rouge Park Food Bank are particularly busy, with a lineup forming around 9 a.m. when the facility opens at noon.

"Most of those people can't come during the week because they are working. But they feel the need to use the food bank," he said.

Balluch said volunteering makes him feel better and encouraged others to think about helping out at their own local food bank.

Neil Hetherington, CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank, echoed that call for more people to donate their time to helping feed their communities.

"We need volunteers, they are the backbone of not only the Daily Bread Food Bank but each of the food banks in the GTHA," Hetherington said.

"We would not be able to do what we do unless we had the community."