'Hunger is not seasonal': How COVID-19 has changed the face of food insecurity in Canada
Food banks across Canada saw a surge in clients during the height of the pandemic.
In the past six months, there was a 67 per cent increase in usage at Canada’s largest food bank compared to before the pandemic. In the month of June alone, 124,000 people visited food banks in Toronto.
This Thanksgiving weekend, Life Unmasked speaks with Talia Bronstein, VP of Research and Advocacy at the Daily Bread Food Bank, about how COVID-19 affected their operations and how communities rallied together to help those in need. The team also talks with a food bank client about her experience with COVID-19 and how the volunteers came to her rescue.
On Oct. 9, Daily Bread will be accepting donations between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 191 New Toronto Street in Etobicoke as part of their annual Thanksgiving drive. Residents are encouraged to take part in the drive-thru event and drop off non-perishable food items.
“The donations that we receive in the Thanksgiving and holiday season are what sustain us all year round,” Bronstein told Life Unmasked, adding that those hardest hit by the pandemic may continue to struggle for months or even years.
“Hunger is not seasonal… But this is the time of year where it's top of mind for people.”
Life Unmasked airs first on the iHeart app every Thursday morning before becoming available on other streaming platforms. If you have questions for the podcast team, or an idea for an episode, please email lifeunmasked@bellmedia.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.