MISSISSAUGA, Ontario: The Punjabi radio producers of CJMR 1320 AM radio station have once again rallied around Seva Food Bank to help fight hunger in the community. This year, they will host the 12th Radiothon and Food Drive. The previous eleven radiothons and food drives have collectively raised over a million dollars and over 500,000 pounds of food for Seva Food Bank.
The 2022 Radiothon will take place all day on Tuesday, November 8, coinciding with Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary. Supporters can call into any of the Punjabi shows and make their pledge on the air. These shows include Rangla Punjab, Punjab Di Goonj, Geetan Naal Preetan, Apna Punjab Radio, Sargam, and Ajj Di Awaaz. The owners of CJMR 1320 AM radio station are providing support and a donation to commemorate the occasion
The Food Drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday November 12 at 12 South Asian grocery stores across the Peel Region. You can find out more about the Radiothon and food drive by visiting: www.sevafoodbank.com/
“As Sikhs around the world will celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak in 2022, we are reminded that Seva Food Bank is founded on Guru Nanak’s values of chardi kala (eternal optimism), sarbat da bhalla (wellbeing of all), and seva (selfless service),” says radio host Kuldip Deepak. “This dark pandemic period means more people are in need than ever before. We are so proud to support Seva Food Bank via the Radiothon, now in its 12th year.”
“The families we serve at Seva Food Bank face sometimes impossible choices. Who would want to have to choose between buying food or paying rent? Or going hungry all day so that your children could eat? This is a reality for many families we serve. Hunger and poverty is real, and exists in our own neighbourhoods” says Seva Food Bank board member, Jyoti Bedi. “This year, the inflation and rising food prices post the COVID-19 pandemic, has made the situation even more acute. Your support is so needed, and enables us to feed over 1,000 families monthly.”
“Every year, we are so pleased to support our Punjabi radio show hosts and Seva Food Bank,” says CJMR’s General Manager Matt Caine. “Seva Food Bank has done incredible work serving the community for the past 10 years and we are proud to support them.”
Seva Food Bank first opened its doors in September 2010 and has grown to distribute over 100,000 pounds of food a month to 1,000 client families. As part of the Mississauga Food Bank’s city-wide network, it provides safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food to clients from its Wolfedale Road and Malton locations.