By Jessie Coletti-Greco

Mar. 16/10

Several of Toronto’s high school students are choosing to spend their March break volunteering at Daily Bread Food Bank.

Daily Bread is having their annual March break madness to help kick-start the Spring Drive. The goal is to raise 250,000 pounds of food and $250,000 in hopes of continuing the fight against hunger in Toronto communities.

The number of client visits to food banks increased by 11 percent from August to January of this year, which means the member agencies saw an extra 41,000 client visits.

Executive Director, Gail Nyberg, said it is always important to donate but that it is particularly important now.

“We are kind of walking on eggshells because we know that a number of people, who last summer and last fall, were laid off are now coming off employment insurance, so we expect to see another spike.”

Nyberg also explained that as we reach the spring and summer months, several of their regular donors go on vacation, but hunger does not.

Students who have volunteered to sort the food have also contributed by bringing in nutritious, non-perishable items.

Brando Santini, a student from St. Michael’s College School, said this is an important cause because more and more people are facing poverty.

“I decided to come to the food bank because I wanted to help people who don’t have food in their household everyday like us,” he explained. “So I came here because it’s a special place to help them.”

Another student volunteer, Tony Ren from Bayview Secondary, said his mom found out about the opportunity online. He also explained that he doesn’t mind volunteering on his time off. 

“I think it’s a good use of my time.”

The Spring Drive runs until April 9th 2010 and donations can be dropped off at any local fire hall, Lablaws, valu-mart, No Frills or Real Canadian Superstore starting March 19