Whitby residents, businesses and municipal staff helped bring in thousands of pounds of food and thousands of dollars for local food banks during this year's Hunger Action Month campaign across Durham Region.
From September 9 to October 5, communities across the region donated 3,000 pounds of food and raised $2,606 in monetary donations — the equivalent of 7,712 meals — for people in need, according to a Town of Whitby news release.
Durham Region municipalities are thanking everyone who took part in the effort, which ran for nearly a month and drew contributions from residents, local businesses and staff.
Where the donations will go
The contributions will support Feed the Need in Durham along with other community food banks, including Durham Community Action Group, The Salvation Army Hope, Community Development Council Durham, Storehouse Foodbank at Southside Worship Centre, and Christian Faith Outreach Centre. The food banks help individuals and families across the region access the food they need.
For Whitby residents who donated or organized workplace drives, the results will stay close to home. The food and funds raised are directed to organizations serving households throughout Durham, including in Whitby and its neighbouring communities.
Food bank demand remains high
The campaign's success comes as demand for food assistance remains sharply elevated across the region.
Last year, more than 880,000 visits were made to food programs across Feed the Need in Durham's network of 70 community food programs, according to the Town. Food bank visits have increased nearly 350 per cent since 2020, and one in four Durham households identifies as food insecure — figures attributed to Feed the Need in Durham.
How to keep helping
Although Hunger Action Month has wrapped up, the need for food support continues year-round, the Town noted. Residents can still donate to Feed the Need in Durham or other local food banks, check the organization's list of most-needed food items, or sign up to volunteer.
The Town's announcement also encouraged residents to stay engaged with local services this fall, noting that booking availability for some municipal services is limited until November 1 while crews handle seasonal priorities such as fall leaf and yard waste collection, with dates opening again in early December.
Residents looking to give back can find donation and volunteer information through Feed the Need in Durham's website or by contacting the Town of Whitby directly.
