Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport kicks off the season of giving to assist community members in need

TORONTO, ONTARIO – Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is once again kicking off the holiday season early by announcing a month-long donation drive at the airport for Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank. Donations will go toward helping the thousands of families facing hunger and food insecurity this holiday season.

A staggering 31% of adults report missing a whole day of meals because they did not have enough money for food, and last year, there were 2.53 million food bank visits in Toronto, underscoring the vital need to address food insecurity across Canada’s largest city. Food bank usage in Toronto increased by 51% last year compared to 2023, and 1 in 10 people in the city relied on food banks last year, up from 1 in 20 the previous year.

“Daily Bread Food Bank is reporting skyrocketing food insecurity in the City of Toronto and across the region. Through this campaign, we have an opportunity to provide much-needed resources to families in need,” says RJ Steenstra, President and Chief Executive Officer of PortsToronto,. “Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is connecting the cause with thousands of passengers, staff and community members who can easily make a donation by tapping at kiosks throughout the airport, or through the online platform. Together we can make a meaningful impact this holiday season.”

“YTZ is a vital transportation hub for Toronto, and we’ve also made great strides in becoming an integral part of our community,” said Neil Pakey, President and CEO, Nieuport Aviation. “That’s why the YTZ family is committed to making a difference in people’s lives during the holiday season when food bank access is traditionally highest. We hope everyone passing through the airport during the month of November will join us in supporting this very worthwhile cause.”

“Right now, one in ten of our Toronto neighbours is struggling to put food on the table,” says Neil Hetherington, CEO, Daily Bread Food Bank. “At a time of such dire need, we are deeply grateful to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for this wonderful initiative. The funds raised through this campaign will directly help families in need of emergency food support this holiday season.”

Passengers, employers from across the airport ecosystem, workers and anyone else passionate about ensuring no one in Toronto goes hungry are encouraged to donate by visiting the drive’s webpage. To make donating as easy as possible, anyone passing through the airport can simply tap their debit or credit card at locations throughout the passenger terminal.

The total amount raised to help those accessing Daily Bread Food Bank’s services will be announced later this month.

About Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Offering service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the U.S., with connection opportunities to more than 80 international destinations via our airlines’ networks, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an important international gateway that will offer US Preclearance in 2025. The airport is a key driver to Toronto’s economy, generating more than $2.1 billion in total economic output and supporting 4,450 jobs, including 2,080 directly associated with the airport’s operations. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has served its community for 85 years from its iconic location on the Toronto waterfront, where it facilitates healthcare for Ontarians by providing a base for medevac services connected to local hospitals. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is committed to achieving its vision of cleaner, greener and quieter operations, and is renowned for its unique travel experience, efficiency, and customer service, having won a host of passenger-driven and environmental achievement awards. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is owned and operated by PortsToronto. To learn more, visit www.billybishopairport.com.

About Nieuport Aviation
Nieuport Aviation is the owner and operator of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Backed by Canadian and international pension funds and supported by significant international expertise in managing aviation operations, we are committed to world-class customer service for the millions of customers using the airport. In addition to managing the passenger terminal, Nieuport Aviation offers passengers a free bus shuttle service between the airport and downtown Toronto, helping to provide a seamless travel experience. For more information, please visit www.nieuport.com. Since acquiring the airport terminal, Nieuport has invested $60 million in upgrades, recently opening the Aspire Business Lounge for Canadian travellers. Nieuport is further investing in the development of the US Customs pre-clearance facility, to be opened in 2025. For more information, please visit www.nieuport.com.

About PortsToronto
For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed approximately 2.8 million passengers in 2019; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada’s largest freshwater marinas; and the marine Port of Toronto that includes businesses in a variety of sectors including marine shipping, cargo services, media production and passenger cruises. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $28 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto’s waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a board with representation from all three levels of government.

About Daily Bread Food Bank
Daily Bread Food Bank works towards long-term solutions to end hunger and poverty 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  205 food programs at  129 member agencies across Toronto. Daily Bread also 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. To learn more, click here.

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