CBC's annual charity drive in support of Harvest Manitoba breaks donation record

CBC Manitoba's annual charity drive in support of Harvest Manitoba brought in over $500,000 to help fill cupboards and dining tables across the province.  

After a full day of programming for the Make the Season Kind campaign, a total of $211,208 had been raised by 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Donations continued over the weekend, raising the total to $216,207.

Donations are being matched by Dave and Elena Forgan and Sure Good Foods up to $250,000, bringing the grand total to $504,296.60, eclipsing the fundraiser's previous record total, set in 2022.

"It certainly feels good," Harvest Manitoba president and chief executive officer Vince Barletta said Tuesday on Information Radio. 

"Every dollar that Harvest spends on food we're able to leverage it 10 times through the food that comes donated through the organization. So really that $500,000 gets multiplied by 10 when you think about the impact it has for Harvest throughout the year."

Barletta says the donations are especially important during the holiday season.

"The need for food banks has never been higher here in Manitoba and across the country."

Friday's programming featured live music and stories on CBC Radio, 89.3 FM in Winnipeg.That included performances by the Sisler High School Jazz Choir led by Carolyn Boyes, Steve Bell, Connor Derraugh, Diaphanie, Slow Spirit and Burnstick.

Last year, Make the Season Kind raised $325,250. The fundraiser's previous record was $364,559 raised in 2022.