2023 marked another incredible year for CBC Toronto’s Sounds of the Season.
Back for the first full Sounds of the Season Open House since 2019, this year’s programming brought members of the community together to ensure families facing hunger had the support they needed during the holiday season and beyond.
Running throughout December, Sounds of the Season raised over $1,002,000 and 36,571 pounds of food to support food banks across the greater Toronto area.
“This year has seen unprecedented need in our community. One in ten Torontonians need to make use of a food bank – up from one in twenty last year; it should never be this way,” said Neil Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank. “Fortunately, CBC viewers, listeners, and readers have been there through Sounds of the Season. It is with very grateful hearts that we say thank you for raising over $1 million dollars in support of local food banks.”
December 8 marked live programming of both Metro Morning and Here and Now at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio. During the programming, Neil joined hosts David Common and Chris Glover to raise awareness about the growing food insecurity crisis. Food bank clients, volunteers, partners and supporters shared their own experiences, which served as important reminders that much work still needs to be done to end food insecurity in our communities.
During the live show, audience members donated an impressive 626 pounds of food, with $581,000 raised from audience members donating online, on the phone and in-person.
This year’s Sounds of the Season programming also brought the return of the School Challenge. 31 schools participated in the challenge, with 18,911 students across the GTA collecting 35,954 pounds (about twice the weight of a school bus) of food – averaging an amazing 1.9 pounds per student.
CBC aired programming and interviews throughout the month to highlight the growing food insecurity crisis. Stories included a behind the scenes look at the effort required to prepare a bustling food bank, the changing faces of food bank clients, and a shop at Daily Bread’s New Toronto Street Food Bank, with CBC host, David Common.
We’re incredibly grateful for your rallying efforts to make the season kind and working to fight hunger! As food bank usage continues to rise – with a million more food bank visits in 2023 than in 2022 (the highest annual increase ever) – we thank you for your support. You helped show that together, we can make a difference for our neighbours facing food insecurity.
Thank you for your generous support of Daily Bread through CBC Sounds of the Season!
Click here if you would like to give the gift of food to neighbours in need.
