Thunder Bay

CBC Thunder Bay Make the Season Kind 2024

CBC Thunder Bay's Make the Season Kind campaign is raising money for the RFDA in northwestern Ontario.

Join us in making the season kinder and support food banks in the region

A poster blue red and turquose poster with the CBC gem and Make the Season Kind logo, reading "join us and help support local food banks."
Make The Season Kind is CBC Thunder Bay's annual campaign to raise food and funds for the Regional Food Distribution Association of Northwestern Ontario. (CBC)

CBC Thunder Bay's holiday campaign is back!

You may know it as Sounds of the Season, but this year, we joined 26 other CBC stations nationwide under a new name: Make the Season Kind. The goal is to raise money and awareness for the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) of Thunder Bay, so the organization can continue its work helping people who are food insecure across northwestern Ontario. 

Since 2003, the RFDA has been bridging the gap between people in the region who need food and those who can provide it. For 20 years, CBC Thunder Bay has been highlighting its efforts through our annual celebration of community and kindness, in support of families in Thunder Bay and the northwestern Ontario region. 

This year, the need is even more urgent; food bank usage in northwestern Ontario has gone up 33 per cent this year, says a report by the RFDA.

Superior Morning host Mary-Jean Cormier and newsreader Olivia Levesque holding a cardboard box with festive wrapping and a festive background.
At last year's fundraiser, Superior Morning's Olivia Levesque and Mary-Jean Cormier pull tickets from a raffle for some exclusive CBC swag. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

Our annual campaign may look a little different this year, but the goal is to make the season kind and raise money for food banks across our community. 

Throughout the next few weeks, you will be hearing about the people and organizations that are making a difference in people's lives.

On Dec. 6, Superior Morning, including host, Mary-Jean Cormier and the entire morning team, will be at the RFDA warehouse broadcasting live as people pack up food to distribute throughout Thunder Bay and surrounding areas. We will have some special guests, music, and maybe a surprise or two. 

If you want to be part of making the season kind, click here to contribute to the RFDA.

Superior Morning show host chatting with a woman who is a food bank user, with a festive background.
At last year's event, CBC Superior Morning host Mary-Jean Cormier, left, speaks to Thunder Bay resident and food bank user Monica Kovacs. (Marc Doucette/CBC)

There are many ways to engage in the campaign, including getting your kids' schools involved.

We have a new challenge for students: the Make the Season Kind School Challenge.

Beginning Nov. 13, all publicly-funded elementary schools in Ontario are invited to participate in the Make the Season Kind School Challenge. The goal is to give students a better understanding of social justice, poverty, and food access in their community.

Participating classes will have the chance to win a pizza lunch courtesy of Pizza Pizza. We encourage parents and guardians to share this initiative with your child's teacher. Click the link above for more information and to register.