'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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.