Powered by the generosity of our city, CBC Ottawa and the Ottawa Food Bank ended 2024 on a high note through the national Make the Season Kind (formerly Project Give) campaign. The campaign supported food banks across Canada, including right here in Ottawa.
During the month of December, CBC Ottawa highlighted the work of the Ottawa Food Bank and the network through a series of stories on radio and television. These stories inspired listeners to learn about the realities of food programs across the city, the experiences of those with lived experience, and the stories of Ottawa Food Bank staff and volunteers who are helping us food bank differently.
We thank equiTABLE Resident Action Group members Line Cote and Stephanie Clarke; member agencies including the African, Caribbean & Black Wellness Resource Centre, Westboro Region Food Bank, Parkdale Food Centre, Centretown Community Food Centre, and Sadaqa Food Bank; Ottawa Food Bank volunteer Bob Morrissey; and Ottawa Food Bank staff members Michelle Lemieux (Coordinator, Community Development) and Tom Robson (Coordinator, Community Harvest). In addition to their existing work contributing to the community, these individuals and groups kindly participated in interviews that can be found on the CBC Make the Season Kind website.
On Thursday, December 5, CBC Radio One Ottawa devoted a day of programming sharing stories about the Ottawa Food Bank. During this time, we also held a full-day call-centre at the Ottawa Food Bank warehouse where listeners to CBC could call in to donate. The day concluded with CBC Make the Season Kind Night, a fun and exciting variety show filled with joy in Stittsville.
Inspired by stories all month long and an evening of community, we raised a record-breaking:
$317,179.04 …and counting!
This donation represents contributions from across our community, including a gift from Toon Dreessen (President, Architects DCA) who generously matched up to $20,000, and two anonymous matching gifts totaling $15,000.
While Ottawa endures a food insecurity crisis, these donations go directly towards the purchasing of fresh, nutritious food that helps 1 in 4 households in our city. Each donation is needed and will make a difference.
Thank you to all who supported this campaign by listening and sharing stories, volunteering their time, and giving generously.
