UMVA has learned that a staggering $1 million donation has been made to the city's Daily Bread Foodbank by the 407 ETR, a significant contribution aimed at combating the rising tide of food insecurity in Toronto.
The donation comes at a critical time, with food bank usage soaring to unprecedented levels. According to information obtained by UMVA, 22% of food bank clients are spending their entire income on housing, while 88% are living in unaffordable housing. The statistics are alarming, with 34% of clients going a whole day without eating in the past year and 53% missing a meal to pay for other essentials.
Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, expressed his gratitude for the 407 ETR's generosity, stating that their partnership will help thousands of people put food on the table and alleviate some of the pressure families are facing. The funding will be used to purchase high-demand, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for people accessing emergency food programs across the Daily Bread's network of over 214 member agencies in Toronto.
The need for such support is evident, with annual visits to the Daily Bread increasing by 348% since 2019. In 2025 alone, 77,584 new clients accessed a member food bank for the first time. The organization now spends approximately $29 million on food purchasing each year, a staggering increase from $1.5 million before the pandemic. The 2024-2025 fiscal year saw the company's member agencies serve 3.7 million client visits.
The $1 million donation is part of 407 ETR's annual One Big Day of volunteering, where hundreds of employees give back to communities across the Greater Toronto Area. This year marked the company's ninth edition of the event, with Jose Espinosa, President & CEO, 407 ETR, emphasizing that the donation aims to address the urgent issue of food insecurity, which affects one in 10 Torontonians.
This significant contribution will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the lives of thousands of individuals and families across Toronto, providing them with access to essential food and helping to ease the burden of food insecurity.
