Thanks to Global Okanagan's generous viewers, we were able to raise a record-breaking $116,000 from the Your Okanagan Calendar Campaign.

At the Central Okanagan Food Bank, the demand for Christmas hampers is up significantly.

"I think the situation made it OK for people to be in need, and there are just so many people in need."

2020 will mark the 21st edition of the Business Cares Food Drive, which draws on the generosity of local businesses to support the London Food Bank.

The food bank in Sooke used to serve about 70 families a week before the pandemic. Now it's more than 100.

The name change comes with the announcement of Harvest's merger with the Manitoba Association of Foodbanks, becoming the fourth-largest distributor of its kind in Canada.

"We are doing toy drives so that we can spruce up the Christmas gift-giving."

food banks can now obtain a special permit to accept and distribute moose and caribou donations.

"The calendar campaign is very important for Global Okanagan it's the way we reach out into the community at the time people need it the most at the end of the year."

Statistics Canada says food insecurity in households across the country has been significantly higher during COVID-19 and has affected nearly one in seven Canadians.