Chow and Bradford join food bank Thanksgiving sort as visits hit record
Both Toronto mayoral candidates joined Premier Doug Ford and more than 200 volunteers at the Daily Bread Food Bank's annual Thanksgiving food sort on October 10.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on cp24.com.
Both Toronto mayoral candidates attended the Daily Bread Food Bank's annual Thanksgiving food sort on Saturday alongside Ontario Premier Doug Ford, where they continued trading public statements about who was responsible for the city's rising cost of living.
CP24 reported that Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford joined Doug Ford and more than 200 volunteers at the food sort, which started at 9 a.m. on October 10 and ran until 4 p.m.
Record demand
Daily Bread says its network recorded more than 2.5 million client visits between January and August 2026, nearly four times the 664,876 visits recorded during the same months in 2020. The organization says about one in 10 Torontonians now regularly relies on a food bank, which it calls "record demand for food assistance."
"The holidays can be some of the most difficult times of year for families struggling to put food on the table," Daily Bread CEO Neil Hetherington said in a statement. "With one in 10 Torontonians now turning to food banks, the level of need in our city is unlike anything we have seen before."
Daily Bread set a $5-million fundraising target for its 2026 Thanksgiving drive. As of the event, the organization said it had raised $2.5 million and was aiming to collect 185,000 pounds of food.
The two candidates at one event
Speaking to reporters at the event, Bradford argued that although the city cannot control grocery or fuel prices, it can affect other bills residents face. He said the nearly 20 per cent property tax increase over three years under Mayor Chow "makes the city less affordable." That figure is Bradford's campaign's characterization of the tax changes under the current administration.
Chow pushed back on Bradford's suggestion that she was "campaigning" at the food bank. She said she had volunteered at the Daily Bread Thanksgiving sort every year and that this was the first time she had seen him attend. She later said "that's not the point" and urged people not to "throw stones," according to CP24.
What voters can do
Advance voting for the October 26 Toronto municipal election runs until October 11. You can see all mayoral candidates and their positions at /on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor. Residents can also donate food or money to Daily Bread through the organization's website; the food bank says it most needs high-protein foods such as nut butters and canned fish, canned fruits, canned vegetables and oatmeal.
Questions this story answers
When did this food bank event take place?
The Daily Bread Food Bank's annual Thanksgiving food sort took place on Saturday, October 10, 2026. It started at 9 a.m. and ran until 4 p.m. Both Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford joined Premier Doug Ford for the first shift at 9 a.m., according to CP24's report.
Why were Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford both at the food bank?
Both Toronto mayoral candidates attended the Daily Bread Food Bank's annual Thanksgiving food sort alongside Ontario Premier Doug Ford and more than 200 other volunteers. The event sorts and packs food for local residents over the holiday weekend. Chow said she had volunteered at the event every year. Bradford also attended the same shift.
How bad is food bank use in Toronto right now?
According to Daily Bread, its network recorded more than 2.5 million client visits between January and August 2026. That is nearly four times the 664,876 visits recorded during the same period in 2020. The organization says about one in 10 Torontonians now regularly relies on a food bank, which it describes as 'record demand for food assistance.'
What is the Daily Bread Food Bank's fundraising target for Thanksgiving 2026?
Daily Bread set a $5-million fundraising target for its 2026 Thanksgiving drive, which it described as its 'most ambitious' goal yet. As of the October 10 event, the organization said it had raised $2.5 million and was aiming to collect 185,000 pounds of food, according to CP24.
What did Brad Bradford say about affordability at the event?
Speaking to reporters at the food sort, Bradford argued that although the city cannot control grocery or fuel prices, it can affect other bills residents face. He said the nearly 20 per cent property tax increase over three years under Mayor Chow 'makes the city less affordable.' That figure is his campaign's characterization of the tax changes under Chow's administration.
What did Olivia Chow say at the food bank?
Chow pushed back on Bradford's suggestion that she was using the food bank event to campaign. She said she had volunteered at the Daily Bread Thanksgiving sort every year and that this was the first time she had seen Bradford attend. She later added 'that's not the point' and urged people not to 'throw stones,' according to CP24's report.
Who else attended the Daily Bread food sort?
Ontario Premier Doug Ford joined Chow, Bradford and other elected officials for the first shift at 9 a.m., along with more than 200 volunteers. The event was organized by the Daily Bread Food Bank and ran for the full day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 10.
What items does Daily Bread most need?
According to Daily Bread, the items it needs most for its Thanksgiving drive include high-protein foods such as nut butters and canned fish, along with canned fruits, canned vegetables and oatmeal. Residents can donate money through the organization's website or drop off non-perishable food at grocery stores and fire halls across Toronto.
Where can I see the Toronto mayoral candidates' positions?
You can see all Toronto mayoral candidates, including Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford, on the voche.me candidate list at /on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor. Voting day is October 26, 2026. Advance voting at Toronto voting stations runs until Saturday, October 11. The City Clerk's office has a full list of locations at toronto.ca.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CP24: Chow, Bradford join Doug Ford for Thanksgiving food sortcp24.com
- Daily Bread Food Bankdailybread.ca
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