CBC Calgary's Blitz Day surpasses halfway mark to $1M goal for Calgary Food Bank

CBC Calgary's Blitz Day isaiming to beat last year's $1 million in donations for the Calgary Food Bank.

At lastcount,the tally was $708,399.

For 36years, area residentshave been donating to the Calgary Food Bank through CBC/Radio-Canada's annual Food Bank Drive raising more than $21million.

This year,we are happy to bring you Make the Season Kind: In support of the Calgary Food Bank.

Throughout December, Calgarianshave been able to join us virtually for special broadcasts, events, auctions and online sales while helping us reach our goal of $1 million for the Calgary Food Bank.

All through Thursday we havespecial holiday programming, giveaways and meet-and-greets withsome ofyour favourite CBC hosts and personalities.Remember to register if you're hoping to get a chat in!

• Share with us how you're making the season kind at cbc.ca/feedyyc and be entered to win a local prize pack.

To help us reach our goal, you canmake a $5 donation online and be entered to win a special home delivery of One Gray Knight from Calgary Eyeopener hostsDavid Gray and Angela Knight.

You can also win a prize pack if you share a heartwarming taleof how you showed or received an act of kindness this year.You can enter through the online formhereor by using the hashtag#CBCFeedsYYC on Instagram or Twitter.

We'll continueto share these heartwarming acts of kindness from Albertans in the days ahead, on the CBC Calgary radio programsCalgary Eyeopener,Alberta@NoonandTheHomestretch, CBC Calgary'swebsiteandsocial media.

You'll be entered for a chance to winprize packs that include:

• Julie Van Rosendaal'sCookies I Have Lovedcookbook.
• A limited-editionMilk Jarcandle.
• A $50 gift card toBowtie Pizza.
• A 36-piece box of salted caramel chocolates fromMaster Chocolate.
• A chocolate gingerbread person fromcochu Chocolatier.
• A wooden CBC-engraved tree ornament.
• A 12-ouncebag of One Gray Knight coffee beans fromFratello Coffee Roasters.
• A limited-edition One Gray Knight coffee mug.
• CBC Calgary winter swag (retro socks, tuque, scarf, mittens).

Here's how you're helping when you donate to the Calgary Food Bank:

• Every dollar donated to the Calgary Food Bank equals $5 worth of food distributed.
• 57% of the food bank users are families.
• 37% of food bank users are children.
• 75,654 phone calls for emergency food support resultedin 221,138 visits.
• 865,410 pounds of food were distributed through Food Link to 56 programs with a value of $2.3 million.
• Volunteers contributed 96,495 hours last year.
• 121,813 hampers were distributed through various programs.
• 88,177 hampers were distributed through the emergencyfood hamper program.
• More than 29,000 food hampers were distributed to the homeless population.

In-demand items to support the Calgary Food Bank:

• Canned tomatoes.
• Kraft Dinner.
• Canned beans (no pork).
• Canned fruit.
• Peanut butter.

Non-perishable food donations can be made in the donation bins at any major grocery store,the food bank warehouse (door #3) or at the outdoor bins located at the Parkdale Community Centre.

To learn more about how you can make the season kind and support the Calgary Food Bank, visit cbc.ca/feedyyc.

You can follow Blitz Day 2021from a safe distance online and on the air:

The Calgary Eyeopenerwith David Gray and Angela Knight (6-8:30 a.m.)

Musical performance by the Rondel Roberts Band (8:30 - 9:00 a.m.)

Current Affairs: Ask Me Anything with Angela Knight, David Gray and Matt Galloway (9 - 10 a.m.)

Sports and Business: Ask Me Anything with Doug Dirks, Paul Haavardsrud and Scott Russell (10 - 11 a.m.)

Ask Me Anything with Andrew Phung and Tarik Robinson (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Alberta at Noon with Judy Aldous (12 p.m. - 1 p.m.)

Baking with Jenny Howe and Julie Van Rosendaal(1 - 2 p.m.)

News and Current Affairs: Ask Me Anything with Judy Aldous and Rob Brown (2 - 3 p.m.)

Farewell to Russell Bowers (3 - 4 p.m.)

Heartland Special with Amber Marshall (4 - 5 p.m.)

The Homestretch with Doug Dirks and Jenny Howe (3 - 6 p.m.)

News at 6 with Rob Brown (6 - 6:30 p.m.)