Sounds of the Season raises money, food for 15,895 meals in K-W

The final numbers are in and CBC K-W listeners and readers have helped provide 15,895 meals for those in need.

Through the annual Sounds of the Season campaign, we raised 1,030 lbs of food, which will provide 805 meals, and $5,030 in cash, which will provide 15,090 meals.

• Children's choir, breakfast salad and generous guests make up part of CBC K-W's Sounds of the Season
• CBC K-W Sounds of the Season: in pictures
• From needing help to giving it, Ray of Hope volunteer Mike Day helps prep 200 meals each night

"The response from the community, as always, is just amazing," The Food Bank of Waterloo Region executive director Wendi Campbell said of the entire season, thanking CBC K-W listeners for helping be part of another successful campaign.

Winter 'a challenging time'

But she added the cold winter months can be very hard on families.

"Winter is such a challenging time for us because we know, historically, that expenses for families especially low-income families really increase in the winter," she said.

Higher prices for heat, hydro and nutritious food can affect a family's bottom line.

But for those who want to do more, there are lots of opportunities to help out, such as by donating online, volunteering your time or even organizing your own food drive, perhaps in time for Family Day.

"Just a number of things to really make sure everything continues to function all year round so that those agencies and programs have the support they need to continue delivering more than 70,000 pounds of food every single week to families in our community," Campbell said.