As thousands of GTA residents celebrate Christmas in the dark, a food shortage has prompted mayor Ford to ask for food donations as people seek refuge at warming centres across the city.

“We encourage people, if you can, to donate non-perishable food,” Ford said during a briefing with reporters on Wednesday.

Ford said nearly 1,000 people stayed in warming centres across the city overnight and says that number is likely to rise as the blackout drags on for many.

The massive weekend ice storm that toppled trees and knocked out power for several days has also left many residents without food.

Mona Kadoura, a mother of three who is also two-months pregnant, says her family hadn’t had power since Sunday.

“We don’t have food, it’s freezing here, from Sunday nothing at all,” she said.

The family has no car or relatives nearby and for the past four days climbed up eight flights of stairs to reach their Toronto apartment.

Kadoura, who was turned away from a nearby warming centre because of overcrowding, said that with everything closed for Christmas, her family is quickly running out of food to eat.

“My husband he brought a banana, some yogurt – that’s all we can eat,” she said.

UPDATE AFTER THE NEWSCAST:

City officials have urged residents looking for a warm meal and bed to take shelter at one of the many warming centres set-up across the GTA.

Deborah Brown, spokesperson for the City of Toronto, told CTV that while warming centres are currently serving full meals to all residents, non-perishable food donations are certainly welcome.

“We’ve managed to feed everyone that’s needed to be fed, but it’s been a little bit tight,” she said.

Brown noted that local residents have answered mayor Ford’s call and have donated food items to shelters.

“I know from just sitting in at the emergency ops centre that food was coming in and people did hear the mayor and did respond.”

“People have been coming out and dropping off things like cookies and chips and drinks and that sort of thing,” she added.

Brown said residents can drop off pre-packaged goods such as cookies, granola bars, soft drinks and bottled water to nearby warming locations. Due to food safety concerns, the public is asked not to donate home-made food.

Residents can also drop-off food to local police stations and Toronto Police Service Headquarters.

The city is currently operating 12 warming centres across the city and is also offering 13 additional Toronto Police Service facilities as warming centres for those in need.

City officials say warming centres will remain open for as long they are needed.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Naomi Parness.