This timely donation will help thousands of
Torontonians facing food insecurity
TORONTO, July 29,
2024 /CNW/ - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is stepping
forward to help thousands of families facing food insecurity in
Toronto, through a generous
$2 million donation to Daily Bread
Food Bank. This is the largest financial gift the Church has made
in Canada to date, and supplements
more moderate donations made to Daily Bread in 2022 and 2023.
Food insecurity in the city of Toronto has reached crisis levels, with one in
ten people relying on food banks – double the rate of the previous
year. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Daily Bread was serving
approximately 65,000 food bank client visits each month. This
number has now reached 350,000 this past May. Additionally, more
than 13,000 new people are walking through our doors for the
very first time each month. The numbers continue to rise
rapidly.
In order to meet the growing demand for emergency food services,
Daily Bread is now spending $22
million on food purchasing annually, compared to
$1.5 million pre-pandemic. We are
deeply grateful to the Church for this donation that will go
directly towards purchasing high-demand, nutritious and culturally
appropriate foods for individuals accessing emergency food
services. A portion of funds will also be directed towards building
resiliency in Daily Bread's transportation fleet, ensuring that we
can continue to meet increased demand in deliveries to our member
network.
Food inflation, skyrocketing housing costs, stagnating wages and
insufficient income supports have created a deep poverty crisis
that is leaving thousands struggling to feed themselves and their
families. Close to one quarter (23%) of food bank clients spend
100% of their income on housing, leaving no money for other
necessities, like food, and putting them at high risk of
homelessness.
"Food is a human right," says Neil
Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank. "We are deeply
grateful for, and inspired by, partners like The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
who are dedicated to serving our community and ensuring that
families have the support they need during times of crisis."
"This donation is a reflection of our deeply held Christian
conviction to love God and our neighbours," says Elder David
G. LaFrance, Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Conflict,
hunger, disease, disaster and poverty, happen in all parts of the
world, including in Toronto, adds
Rich Ternieden, Communication
Director for the Church in Ontario, leading to unmet basic human needs.
"We are grateful to partner with Daily Bread Food Bank to help with
the responsibility of caring for our fellow humans."
About The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is a global Christian religion with approximately
50,000 members in the Province of Ontario and 17 million members worldwide. The
Church helps others in need and continues to expand its work in
Canada and across the world,
providing general humanitarian aid and supporting victims of
natural disasters. In 2023, the Church contributed $1.36 billion toward 4,119 humanitarian projects
in 191 countries, and its members volunteered 6.2 million hours of
relief service globally. In Ontario, between 2021 and 2023, the Church
provided several million dollars in humanitarian aid to local food
banks, homeless shelters and other charitable relief organizations
serving vulnerable communities.
SOURCE Daily Bread Food Bank