Nearly 50,000 meals donated by residents during Oshawa-based Feed the Need Durham food drive

Durham residents collectively raised the equivalent of nearly 50,000 meals during a month-long food drive for Feed the Need and other local food banks.

Food and monetary donations were made by residents, community organizations, businesses, and municipal staff who showed an outpouring of generosity to fight local hunger. All donations will be used to support local families in need.

A total of 17,867 pounds of food and the cash equivalent were raised during drive, which works out to 48,894 meals, especially important with the pandemic still causing pressures on the cost of living, sending more people to food banks and related services than ever before.

Ben Earle, the CEO of Feed the Need in Durham, said hunger is an important issue that affects residents across the Region.

“As food prices have risen over the past year, too many of our neighbours struggle to put food on the table,” he said. “That is why this year Hunger Action Month has been more critical for us than ever before. Once again, our municipal partners came together to help raise awareness, food donations and funds to fight hunger across Durham … and nourish our community.”

Durham residents can continue to fight local hunger by donating to Feed the Need in Durham or other local food banks. View Feed the Need in Durham’s Wish List of most desired food items here.

Feed the Need in Durham collects, stores, and distributes two million pounds of food annually to 65 emergency food providers and five school nutrition programs across Durham Region.