CBC British Columbia marked Make the Season Kind on Dec. 5 with events across the province, all in support of Food Banks B.C. As of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, donations have reached $2,561,421.34, and the online portal will stay open until midnight on Dec. 31.

The annual fundraiser, first launched in 1986, has collected more than $24,000,000 over the years. Last year’s total reached $2,410,283.14. This year’s celebration featured family friendly events at the CBC Outdoor Plaza in downtown Vancouver, including live music, performances by local artists and a Make the Season Kind food truck. The evening ended with Kindness Karaoke, broadcast live on CBC Radio One.

Listeners on Vancouver Island joined a special broadcast from the Goldstream Food Bank in Langford, while a B.C. Interior wide morning show shared music and stories from communities outside the Lower Mainland.

Food Banks B.C. says demand is rising sharply. More than 100,000 residents used food bank services in a single month, and visits have increased by nearly 80% since 2019. Nearly one third of those accessing support were children. Their data also shows a growing number of people with full time jobs needing assistance, with an estimated 24% of British Columbians experiencing food insecurity.

Executive director Dan Huang Taylor noted that charities cannot shoulder this responsibility alone and called for broader action to address hunger and improve food access across the province.

Source: CBC