CalgaryMake the Season Kind

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

CBC Calgary's annual food bank drive kicked off Dec. 3 and runs throughout the month with special broadcasts, events, auctions and online sales. Help us surpass our goal of raising $1 million for the Calgary Food Bank.

Our annual food bank drive returns with special events and broadcasts this month

CBC News Posted: Dec 15, 2021 8:20 PM EST | Last Updated: December 17, 2021

Co-hosts of The Homestretch Doug Dirks and Jenny Howe decked out in their holiday duds for Blitz Day cheer. (CBC)

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.

CBC Calgary staffers Mackenzie Meyer, left, and Ute Schaffland, right, in the holiday spirit on Blitz Day. (Madelaine Lapointe/CBC)

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.)

Calgary Eyeopener hosts Angela Knight, left, and David Gray, right, on Blitz Day Thursday morning. Join us virtually from the comfort of your home for special broadcasts, events, auctions and online sales while helping us reach our goal of raising $1 million for the Calgary Food Bank. (Madelaine Lapointe/CBC)

A big shout out to our longtime donor Malcolm, who braved the cold this morning to bring in a donation. With his help, our grand #BlitzDay total is now $325,783.30! Malcolm has donated a total of $2,800 over the past 11 years to the @CalgaryFoodBank. Thank you for the support! pic.twitter.com/TQK60Jasx9
—@CBCCalgary

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

A trimmed-down version of The Rondel Roberts Band performs live during the Blitz Day broadcast of the Calgary Eyeopener on Thursday. (Madelaine Lapointe/CBC)

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

The Calgary Eyeopener's David Gray, bottom right, and Angela Knight, top left, and Matt Galloway, bottom left, from The Current Ever joined Eyeopener director Paul Karchut to chat what it is like to host a local CBC morning or national show. (CBC)

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

Doug Dirks, host of The Homestretch, Paul Haavardsrud, host of The Cost of Living, and Scott Russell, host of CBCs Road to the Olympic Games, hosted an interactive meet and greet to answer all your questions about sports and business. (CBC)

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

CBC's Ishita Singla, top left, moderates a talk with actor Andrew Phung, right, and musician Tarik Robinson, bottom, during an Ask Me Anything session on Thursday. (Madelaine Lapointe/CBC)

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

Alberta at Noon host Judy Aldous got listeners to trade their favourite Christmas stories for a song played by pianist Sheldon Zanboer and Tim Tamashiro, a Calgary musician, actor and speaker. (CBC)

@TimTamashiro and Sheldon Zanboer ready to sing you a song after you call in with your favourite Christmas memory.

Swapping your story for a song on @AlbertaatNoon

1 866 468 4422

Its #blitzday at #cbcfeedsyyc and #cbcfeedsyeg pic.twitter.com/P7piQ5mANU
—@judyaldous

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

CBC's Madelaine Lapointe, right, moderates a session on baking, with Jenny Howe, left, and Julie Van Rosendaal, bottom. (CBC)

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

Will Tigley, top left, moderates an Ask Me Anything talk with Judy Aldous, bottom, and Rob Brown. (CBC)

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

LIVE NOW: Come say goodbye to our longtime host of Daybreak Alberta, Russell Bowers. Visit https://t.co/l3QTjgCFNA to join the virtual #BlitzDay party! #cbcfeedsyyc pic.twitter.com/qC2EHspxMt
—@CBCCalgary

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

CBC's Alisha Edgelow, left, moderates a meet-and-greet with Heartland's Amber Marshall, right, about her acting career and the show. (CBC)

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

Listen to local singer/songwriter @megdawsonmusic and @DustynFink throughout @CBCHomestretch today for live music as part of our virtual #Blitz Day. Log in to the virtual platform at https://t.co/l3QTjgCFNA to watch and listen right now. #cbcfeedsyyc pic.twitter.com/ZfFjaIt3yA
—@CBCCalgary

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

Rob Brown brings you the stories behind the top news of the day in Calgary. (CBC)

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