Church of Jesus Christ aids fight against hunger through $1.45 million donation to Toronto food bank

Cassidy Wixom, KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY (KSL.com) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated $1.45 cardinal to a Toronto nutrient slope to thief group facing nutrient insecurity.

The donation, amounting to $2 cardinal successful Canadian currency, was fixed to Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank, Canada’s largest nutrient bank. The aid was announced by CEO Neil Hetherington connected Monday.

The nutrient slope thanked nan religion for its “transformational” gift successful an arena Monday and said nan aid will guarantee group successful Toronto tin entree nutritious and culturally due food.

“$2 cardinal — that intends immoderate 2 cardinal meals retired to nan community. That intends we tin acquisition 2 caller trucks that will let america to make judge that each Torontonian tin person entree to decent, awesome food,” Hetherington said.

Food slope visits person climbed to “alarming heights,” resulting successful astir 1 successful 10 group surviving successful Toronto facing nutrient insecurity and having to trust connected nutrient banks, a merchandise from nan religion said.

The Daily Bread Food Bank sees astir 350,000 customer visits per month, compared to only 65,000 visits pre-pandemic. The statement tin service astir 1,000 families successful conscionable a fewer hours.

The nutrient bank’s yearly spending has accrued from $1.08 cardinal to complete $15.9 cardinal to support up pinch nan accrued demand.

“It’s going to beryllium a crippled changer; it’s going to beryllium a life changer,” parliament personnel James Maloney said astatine nan arena Monday. “On behalf of everybody present and everybody who unluckily needs nan services of nan Daily Bread Food Bank, convey you, convey you, convey you.”

Elder Davis LaFrance, an area seventy for nan church, said it is important to travel Jesus Christ’s illustration to thief others successful need.

“This aid to nan Daily Bread Food Bank is portion of our greater efforts to springiness and thief successful nan areas successful which we live. Our information is retired of work to others and to thief those successful request and really travel our Christian convictions to do so. We really are grateful for nan awesome activity that’s done present astatine Daily Bread,” he said.

During Monday’s event, volunteers sorted astir 1,000 pounds of nutrient connected tract and made nutrient deliveries pinch Daily Bread Food Bank trucks.

This aid is nan largest financial gift nan Church of Jesus Christ has ever made successful Canada.