Latest news with #NeilHetherington
Cision Canada
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Metallica donates $40K to Daily Bread Food Bank
Much-needed funds will be used to support the record number of Torontonians relying on food banks TORONTO, April 28, 2025 /CNW/ - World-renowned rock band Metallica announces they will be donating $40K to Daily Bread Food Bank through their foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH). These much-needed funds will aid the organization's efforts to feed Canadians amid the city's worsening hunger crisis. "We want to wholeheartedly thank the members of Metallica for this incredibly generous donation," says Neil Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank. "Right now, far too many are struggling, and these funds will help support food bank clients as the hunger crisis in our city reaches an all-time high. This gift means even more considering the band has a history of donating to the Daily Bread cause." Toronto is seeing an unprecedented rise in food insecurity rates, so much so that in December the city declared the issue a state of emergency. According to the 2024 Who's Hungry report more than one in 10 people in Toronto are relying on food banks — twice as many as just two years prior. Most recently, Daily Bread member food banks saw a staggering 903,350 client visits from January to March 2025 — four times the number of visits in the same period in 2020 (215,748). "Learning that there is widespread food insecurity in Toronto reminds us just how many people are faced with making tough decisions and need assistance," said Renée Richardson, Director of Philanthropy for AWMH. "We are thankful Daily Bread is there to bridge the gap for so many families." Metallica's $40K donation will enable Daily Bread Food Bank to provide about 40,000 meals to the community, one meal for every dollar donated. Daily Bread relies on donations to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins and dairy for distribution to 205 food programs across the city. Last week, Metallica played two sold out shows at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena as a part of their M72 World Tour. This is the second time Metallica has donated to Daily Bread Food Bank, the first time being in November 2016, when they donated all proceeds from a surprise show at The Opera House. About Daily Bread Food Bank Daily Bread Food Bank works toward long-term solutions to end hunger and runs innovative programs to support individuals living on low income and experiencing food insecurity. Daily Bread distributes fresh and shelf-stable food, and fresh-cooked meals to 129 member agencies and 205 food programs across Toronto. In addition, Daily Bread publishes the influential Who's Hungry report — an annual survey measuring trends in food insecurity and poverty in Toronto to educate the public and spark policy change. About All Within My Hands In 2017, Metallica established their foundation, All Within My Hands, to give back to communities that have supported the band. Since its inception, All Within My Hands' collective efforts have raised more than $20 million. The foundation has provided $11.4 million in grants for workforce education, $7.4 million to fight hunger globally, and $5.2 million donated to critical local services worldwide. 100% of donations go directly to local organizations that the Foundation supports. As always, Metallica covers all administrative costs. Please visit for more information.
CBC
07-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Toronto food banks brace for the worst in the face of looming tariff threat
Social Sharing Toronto food banks – many of which are already struggling to meet demand – are expecting to see a significant increase in users if the threatened U.S. tariffs go ahead on April 2. Neil Hetherington, CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank, told CBC Toronto the non-profit was already expecting to spend $2.5 million more than originally budgeted to meet increased demand this year. And that's before factoring in any impact tariffs would have, he said. "Now you add on individuals who are going to lose their jobs, individuals who are not going to get those additional hours at their place of location and they are going to come to the food bank," Hetherington said. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump paused the tariffs on Canadian goods that briefly went into effect on March 4, which included 25 per cent levies on most Canadian goods and 10 per cent levies on oil and gas exports. The nearly month-long reprieve comes after weeks of back-and-forth from the administration in Washington, leaving local food banks preparing for worst-case scenarios in the days ahead. In retaliation, Canada originally slapped 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods, and tariffs would be applied to another $125 billion worth after a three-week consultation period. If that should come to pass, Hetherington said, any revenue earned on counter-tariffs should be put to good use. "Let's make sure that that money is going directly back into social infrastructure," he said. "Like making sure that we're developing decent affordable housing across Canada so that this legacy at least be one where we have a stronger, more resilient Canada." Ryan Noble, executive director at North York Harvest Food Bank, agreed, adding that while food banks would be under additional strain because of the tariffs, the larger problems they face aren't new. Policy solutions needed, even without tariffs "We've been telling similar stories for years now," he told CBC Toronto. "We've allowed our social safety net to degrade … That story is not going to change until we see the types of policy solutions that are going to be required so that people have sufficient income to meet their basic needs." North York Harvest is also preparing for major impacts if the trade war is reignited. Specifically, Noble said he would expect a higher volume of users as well as a decrease in contributions as regular donors face rising daily costs. "And then our ability to fill in the void from that decrease in donations becomes more and more expensive," he said. Fiona Yeudall, an assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Nutrition, told CBC Toronto tariffs pose a threat to food security in general. "When people are stressed in terms of their income the food is the elastic portion," she said. "You start to eat food that you don't like as much or you reduce the quality. And if it gets really bad, you reduce the quantity. And the last people within any household who get reduced quantity are children. So if there's hungry children, there's hungry parents." Even before the tariffs came along, food insecurity was primarily an income issue and requires income-based solutions, Yeudall said. CERB-like program could help, says professor One tactic would be for the government to implement a similar strategy to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) rolled out during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, adding that learning from that program – what worked, what didn't – should be applied to any new approach. Solutions like this are essentially a form of universal basic income, Yeudall said.
