Your Spirit Saves The Season For Daily Bread Food Bank At The Sheraton Centre
Posted December 19, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was quite a day at the Sheraton Centre on Friday. In the middle of the worst snow storm of the season, hundreds of people still turned up dark and early for Citytv’s annual Spirit of the Season Celebration.
It’s a little hard to get excited at 6am at the end of a long week, but the magic was in the moment, and the event raised thousands of dollars for the Daily Bread Food Bank. By noon, more than $162,000 had been collected and there was more to come.
Many came despite the fact they had very little themselves. Dave Yuke is low on cash but brought his own small contribution, inspired by the generosity of others. ” I know they needed help, so I just went into my cupboards and thought I would bring down a little something for somebody,” he shrugs.
Cheques for $1,500, $500 and $20,000 were just a few of the donations that came in during the 12-hour long event.
Food Bank Executive Director Gail Nyberg was astonished at the turnout, especially given the weather. “I’m pleasantly surprised. I was fearful the snowstorm would inhibit them. Not surprised by the generosity but thought the snowstorm would stop people from coming.”
She admits all that help hasn’t gone unnoticed and she’s grateful for every morsel. “The money and food we collect now will take us through the winter,” she assures.
In the end, the event raised an astonishing $219,842 and some 12,000 pounds of food.
Nyberg could barely believe it. ” It is just incredible. I can’t describe it,” she admits. “I think the people of Toronto understood when we said it was time to dig deep and they have.”
But it wasn’t just for giving. It was also for getting. A lot of prizes were being given out at the event, which continued until 6pm Friday. And one lucky donor went home with a new 42″ high definition TV set and a package from Rogers Television worth $2,500 for her trouble.
But for Nyberg, your contributions are what really made everyone a winner. ” We can buy tuna, eggs, and wieners and stuff so we can make sure that the hampers are balanced and it is not just a hamper full of crackers,” she beams.
Couldn’t make it to the Sheraton Centre with your contribution because of the weather? You don’t have to leave home to make a difference. You can contribute online here.
