Mississauga, ON, 18 November, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
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 10th Radiothon and Food Drive. The previous nine radiothons and food drives have collectively raised over a million dollars and over 400,000 pounds of food for Seva Food Bank.
The 2020 Radiothon will take place all day on Monday, November 30th, 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, Parvasi, Punjab Di Goonj, Geetan Naal Preetan, Apna Punjab Radio, Fulkari, Sargam, Ajj Di Awaaz and Mehfil. Listeners will also be able to make donations on the weekend prior, 28th and 29th November, on Dil Apna Punjabi, Surkhaab Radio, Sadda Virsa, Hum, Road News Rangoli, Voice of Asia, Saajh Dilan Di and Asian Vision programs.
The owners of CJMR 1320 AM radio station are providing support and a much appreciated donation to commemorate the occasion.
In light of the pandemic, the 2020 Food Drive is virtual, comprising 13 Days of Giving, starting on Saturday, November 14th until Friday November 27th. Most needed items and drop off locations are listed at www.sevafoodbank.com/radiothon.
“As Sikhs around the world will celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak in 2020, 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),” remarks 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 10th 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 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.”
CJMR 1320’s General Manager Matt Caine says, “Last year we helped Seva Food Bank with over $200,000 in pledges and 44,000 pounds of food. Over nine years we have passed the $1,000,000 milestone in total donations. An incredible achievement! This year, it could be argued that the need in our community has NEVER been greater. For our tenth radiothon fundraiser, CJMR offers to match 20 pledges of $500.”
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.
